It seems to me that our world has lost a huge degree of decency, respect, and privacy. In my childhood, certain situations were considered adult topics or family only. Thus, sensitive topics like miscarriages were not spread all over town and most people knew when to keep their mouth shut.
These days, too many people don’t have any filters at all. They disclose personal information in church, on Facebook, or on the post office steps without asking if the person involved has agreed to a public sharing.
If you’re having a rough patch, a challenging health situation, or other difficulties and want your church or local groups to remember you, you should either notify the organization yourself or authorize a friend to share your needs. Everybody else, shield difficult situations with respect.
Thank goodness we still have HIPPA, a health care privacy law, that is supposed to protect disclosure of your health records and status. Health care providers are trained to keep patients’ information private, both the records and any discussion.
Of course, in Meeker, you can’t go to Pioneers without running into someone in the middle of the lobby asking why you are there for everyone else to hear. I’ve learned it is smart to have a good cover story, “just some tests” or “checkup” that is probably part of your visit anyway.
The highly personal disclosures on Facebook really drive me nuts. I enjoy scrolling through the pages and catching up on local things I wouldn’t otherwise know including restaurant closures, weather concerns, and new events. Because I stay in touch with friends all over the country, I still get to share a bit of their lives and joys.
But really, do I care what you ate for dinner or those vapid “likes?” Uh, no. Seems like a waste of communication space to me. If you have some exciting news, want to let me vicariously share your vacation, I’m all in.
Please do not share other people’s information; let them do that. I do not want to see a feed that pops up again over the years of my face in your photos at some event. It’s my choice to share that, not yours. Get permission before you post photos of others.
Believe me, I have gotten into plenty of trouble with my adult children for sharing photos they consider unflattering and flat out prohibited me from posting grandchildren pictures on FB. Granted, they are highly sensitive about this subject, but I do respect their preferences. (You can see pictures of our grandkids on our refrig instead!)
Clearly some people are more comfortable telling everyone their story and I know it helps these folks get stuff off their chests rather than bottle it up inside. If you open up, you are likely to receive empathy and support in return. For these folks, that is all good stuff.
But when it comes to people like me, we are sensitive about our privacy and often aghast about the lack of filters by others. We prefer to keep personal stuff confidential. I believe that’s still our right.
Publicly elected officials are in a different category because you serve at the public’s pleasure and in most cases, business conducted is available in public records. If citizens disagree with you or your behavior, it is their right to speak out. Personally, I hold you to the highest level of dignity and respect as leaders of our community.
Please, just think before you speak or write if it is about other people. Privacy in a small community is a dear commodity.
By KAYE SULLIVAN – Special to the Herald Times
