Jim Coudal links to a story just now with the link line "Twitter can be dangerous". To summarize, a young woman twittered about a job offer from Cisco and wondered aloud "Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work." Tim Levald, Cisco's Community Development Strategist found the tweet and responded, "Who is the hiring manager. I'm sure they would love to know you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web."
Cue gnashing of teeth and dire warnings that nothing is private anymore and that "in these economic times" you shouldn't ever say anything bad about anyone. And, you know, sure. I myself certainly never (well, hardly ever) blog about work. But you know what, it does get my goat a bit that all the blame is likely to piled on this young woman. Because Tim Levald comes across as a bit of a dick in this short exchange. His job is to develop community and his first response to a comment about his company is to publicy mock and belittle that person (and an assertion that Cisco is aware of all internet traditions) not a quick DM with "You do know that your tweets aren't protected and that people from Cisco are finding them on searches."
Because if Tim is really "versed in the web" he might be aware that Twitter lets you compose messages of 140 characters. Which often loses something called nuance. Maybe all of this young woman's friends, who were who she thought she was communicating with, understand that by "hating the work" she means working at all or it's an injoke or who knows... we're not her friends.
The internet gives us more and more chances to make social gaffes. It also gives us all more and more chances to be generous and let people gracefully back out of those gaffes -- or more and more chances to be a dick.
Update: I wanted to make sure I wasn't being too unkind to Mr. Levald, so I went to look at his Twitter stream. He's asking people to retweet the exchange with an all-caps "#FAIL" tag. God, what a dick.
erica
I think your post is cut off...temptation to what?
Also, I'm glad this happened to this poor woman. Now she doesn't have to work with a bunch of assholes.
Fuzzy Gerdes
Ha! I had decided against telling that story, but didn't actually delete it all before hitting publish. Look at who is internet fail now? It's me!
Shaun (likely Dick)
I disagree.
You defend her too much. The guys is a bit of a dick, maybe, but she is PUBLICALLY slagging off the company who has offered her a (high paying) job. You can try to weasel her way out of it with: "Because if Tim is really "versed in the web" he might be aware that Twitter lets you compose messages of 140 characters. Which often loses something called nuance. Maybe all of this young woman's friends, who were who she thought she was communicating with, understand that by "hating the work" she means working at all or it's an injoke or who knows... we're not her friends."
I call Bullshit.
It is a job she obviously does not want to do, but is considering it for the sake of the money.
This exact exchange goes to my constant point about why tweets are 90% rubbish and useless. Not only do 99% of the world not care about your tweet that you just took a big ol' dump, BUT the ones that do, you don't really want to talk to.
If you want to talk about the pros and cons of taking a high paying job for the moeny. Do that. E-mail or god for bid CALL your ACTUAL friend, don't post the random ass thought on the internet where everyone can see, adn again 99% of the world doesn't care, but that 1% that is CISCO, certainly does give a shit.
If she had slagged off FuzzyCo so blatantly and cavalierly would you still defend her? I doubt it.
You say "nothing is private anymore". That is a CHOICE. Dimwits like this woman should have a slap to the head by a friend who explains how she does not HAVE to have her thoughts be public. Her narcissism is the cause, not the internet. I have tons of my life that is private because I CHOOSE that. I choose not to post random thoughts about my most recent dump, or my cat puking, or i masterbated, online.
I also have a bit of annoyance towards the friends of mine who have VERY obviously and blatantly stopped communicating directly with me as much as they used to because they seem to assume I read their tweet, or twits, or whatever it happens to be. Really? I have to check your f-ing tweets to know what you are up to when I used to get calls, e-mail, and god forbid personal interaction? How self important are people getting?
Twitter friendships make me weep for our future.
Shaun
Fuzzy Gerdes
Well, Shaun, I've obviously hit a nerve about social media in general. But I'll just address "If she had slagged off FuzzyCo so blatantly and cavalierly would you still defend her?"
Because, yes. That was the story that I half-posted and then removed (see Erica's confusion above and my reply). In short, someone posted some scathing remarks on his LiveJournal about my improv coaching. It was obviously not a "review" or anything meant to be public, but was intended for just his friends. But I came across them nonetheless. I was tempted to act vindictively but in the end I just sent him a short email that said "just so you know, your posts are public and I have read them." And he was very apologetic.
Because it was a gaffe. A misstep. It wasn't like it was a hardened position that he held -- he was venting in an environment that he mistakenly thought would only be read by his friends.
And god knows I've said some dumb things in person and online before, and I'm very grateful to kind people who have gently pointed out my blunders rather than using them as ammunition against me.
DIck
As we discussed tonight...
Yes, he was a dick. but no matter his dickdom, and level of dick response. No matter the level of politeness he should have responded with, the mistake is a stupid thing to do. And one I feel is indicitive of the people who feel the need to post every update on their dumps on the internet. NOTHING on the internet should or can ever be considered "private". If you post every meaningless thoguht you have, on the internet, you will eventually make this mistake.
She shoudl hve very well known, posting a statement liek that on the internet woudl certinaly be seen by either, someone at Cisco, someone who knows someone at Cisco adn forwards it on, or someone who is a dick adn forwards it on jsut to fuck with her. She should have known better. She has learned a painful lesson.
Twitter will continue to cause this sort of problem for people.
Next trime hopefully she will call a friend (assuming she has one other than 'the net') adn have dinner adn discuss this topic, adn have human interaction instead of tweets.
Supporter of human interaction, opponent of tweeting,
Shaun
DanIzzo
Looks like the Fuzzy one coming down on you is enough that Tim tucked his tail and removed his nasty tweet.
BTW, I think you and Shaun both make valid points, but I like you better. Unless I'm drinking, then F you - Shaun's my man.