F-bombs and Negativity – How People Really Feel About It

Can negativity and profanity have a financial impact on your business?

I think it can, and in a big way.

Don’t think I’m just tossing out blame or judgement about profanity.  I am guilty myself.  In real life I use the occasional four-letter word and sometimes complain about silly things.

Online however, I choose not to use language that is inappropriate and I am very conscious of making my presence positive and upbeat.

Maybe it is because in my life I have worked with some really negative people who drained my energy and I never want to subject others to that.

I recently asked business owners on my Facebook page how they feel about the use of negativity and profanity and the responses were overwhelmingly the same.

Don’t do it.

Most people will take deliberate action to keep you out of sight.  They will either hide your updates in their newsfeed or they will block/unfriend you.

I am all for being authentic. I believe that each person has a right to do what they want with their social media profiles.

How you present yourself is your choice.

But, please remember that we now live in a world where your online behavior impacts your professional “real” life in a very real way.

Whether you own a business, work for a company or are unemployed and looking for a job, every update you make leaves an impression and each impression allows others to form an opinion of the type of person you are.  This is fact.

Recently, Sandra Yancey, Founder and CEO of eWomenNetwork, posed the same type of question on Facebook.  Ninety-one comments later, the consensus was pretty much the same.

The interesting thing was, shortly after, another woman I know who will remain nameless posted the f-bomb several times on her Facebook status and implied someone was complaining about profanity.  She basically said “if you don’t like it, un-friend me.”

As I said earlier, how you present yourself on social media is your choice. But keep in mind that how others perceive you is also your choice. You have the right to post whatever you want but constant complaints about life, throwing around f-bombs and just general unprofessionalism will ensure that other people are not rallying around to support you and your business.

In the words of Nicki Minaj “Just give us one minute of professionalism.”

Agree or disagree in the comments below. How do you feel about profanity and negativity on social media?