Get the Hell Off My Stage

Okay, it has been a while since I posted a note ranting about something that annoys me. Shocking, I know! Today's rant was going to be about wonderful husbands who piss you off, but I am opting not to go that route at this point. Instead, I want to talk about Social Networking Etiquette.

If you know me, you know that I am a HUGE advocate for social networking, both for personal and professional purposes. When I'm not moving, I can almost always be found on either Facebook or Twitter (Tweetdeck). As a person, I find it very cool to interact and chat with others who may or may not share any common ground with me. Most of the news/current events I get are from Tweets. I don't like to read the news or watch it on TV, but I probably need to know what is going on in the world, so I watch the tweets.

Click Cover to Buy eBook at Smashwords

My other favorite place to be is Facebook. I use this both personally (Family Tree connections) and for business. As a publisher and an author, it is crucial that people know me and what I write and publish. Facebook works for me. What doesn't work for me is other authors who shake their groove thang on my stage. I do not go to other people's pages and leave shameless snippets of promotion about my books. I just don't do it. If I post to someone else's wall it is either personal or something funny or awesome that I thought they would enjoy. I know for a fact that they would NOT enjoy me promoting Dark Shines My Love on their wall. It is much the same as you bringing your tuba playing son to my daughter's ballet recital. Okay, your son may not play the tuba and I don't have a daughter, but you see my point. Right?

So why would you friend me on Facebook and then start leaving links and excerpts for your book on my wall? Why? Do you want me to unfriend you? Do you do this to everyone? Leave a comment about something relative and add a link (one link) to your website, fine. I can live with that, even encourage it. But nothing more.

The other thing is groups. If I want to be a member of your group, I will seek it out and join. Do not take it upon yourself to add me to your group because you think I will enjoy it. I can promise you I won't, and it will just make me post nasty comments about you. I know, not professional, but neither is assuming someone wants to do something without giving them a choice. Delete it, you say. Unjoin, you say. Why should I have to take that time out of my schedule to undo something I didn't do in the first place?

I beg of you, please think things through before you do them online. It isn't rocket science, it is just common courtesy.

So, now that I have ranted, tell me what you hate others to do on social networking sites.

[image error]