Comments on: Don’t blame my boss if I blog something stupid!

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:24:25 +0000

@chris, if that would have been a chocolate chip peppermint milk shake, I don’t think I would have been that upset!

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:23:24 +0000

@lyontamer73

Thanks for the reply. I think your idea on reader association and interpretation is a way to reinforce the point I was trying to make which is people are going to make associations whether we want them to or not. So, whether you are on the clock/off the clock, in uniform/out of uniform or any other dichotomy, people are still going to make an association so we should all consider that when we walk out the door or fire out a blog post.

Great thoughts.

By: chris

chris — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:31:14 +0000

So true. We have a choice to make with all our decisions-Will I take responsibility or blame someone else. And sorry for dumping that shake on you…

By: Tweets that mention Don’t blame my boss if I blog something stupid! « Greg Darley -- Topsy.com

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:49:46 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Backstage Leadership, harvedavis. harvedavis said: RT @gregdarley: If you have a conditional statement on your blog, please don't take this the wrong way http://bit.ly/8beCQd [...]

By: lyontamer73

lyontamer73 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:45:54 +0000

This article makes a good point, but there is something it leaves out. No matter how someone writes a piece, on a blog or elsewhere, it is the reader who must interpret it. Half the responsibility comes from the reader’s interpretation. To borrow from the milkshake example, what if it were spilled because he tripped, or mistook you for someone else, etc. but you were so busy reacting to being spilt on that you didn’t take this into consideration? Maybe he wasn’t on the clock, or in uniform, at the time? (Many companies require professional behavior while in uniform, but not other times.) And, regarding flu shots, many people do not consider that there was a shortage of the vaccine, and so only the high-risk groups were getting them. Doctors and others urged those in high-risk groups to get it. Not all of them made that clear, though – there is where that doctor made his mistake. But he didn’t refuse it for being a hypocrite, and Oprah isn’t also a hypocrite because of the doctor’s error. (She is for other reasons. )

It’s tricky. People have an innate tendency to make associations, even when they are not really there. Most of the public is not aware that their brains do this. For that reason, we need to be careful writers and speakers, true. But, as readers and listeners, we also need to be critical thinkers, be aware of our tendency to make associations, and look for more information before simply reacting.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:35:09 +0000

That is funny. Want you write one up and we’ll get it out to all the self employed folks! Well, don’t hold me to that…

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:33:52 +0000

And welcome Europe to the conversation! Thanks for chiming in Doug. I would bet this is huge in the heath business.

By: anne jackson

anne jackson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:30:16 +0000

since i work for myself, i think it would actually be really funny to have this disclaimer…

By: Doug St. Martin

Doug St. Martin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:01:34 +0000

Nicely put Greg! I 100% agree with this. It brings to mind the situation with the recent “swine flu pandemic.” Dr. Oz on Oprah was pushing everyone to get vaccinated, yet he explained that his wife and his children would not be getting the vaccine. Hypocritical behavior from such a “guru” of health. I can not help but associate his hypocracy with Oprah Winfrey and her show. Completely separate entities, but I tie them together due to their association with each other. Oprah may have a completely different character than that, but in my book, she is now his equal. Too bad for her.