May 8, 2012

Facebook Blooper

The Facebook post began with good intentions.

“Pooped after the big retreat,” the priest posted.

“Thanks to the bishop and all who helped make it happen.”

The post might have elicited only a few snide comments from the priest’s own circle of friends. But the worn-out priest tagged the bishop and several others who were instrumental in the weekend activities.

The snickering and creative comments flowed forth.

Bran cereal normally helps me, one writer posted. Another wondered: It’s odd that you needed help from the bishop for that. 

I admit: I found the inadvertent phrasing hilarious. I might even have guffawed. It’s reminiscent of worship bulletin bloopers: 

  • Don’t let worry kill you. Let the church help.
  • For those of you with children and don’t know it, there’s a nursery downstairs.
  • Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items. Proceeds will go to cripple our children.
  • Low self-esteem group will meet next Thursday. Please use the back door.

The difference – and challenge – is that posting on social media presents the possibility of our errors going, well, social. 

Keeping that in mind, I offer two suggestions. 

First, we need to be ever mindful when we’re typing a Facebook post – we should give it as much proofreading and editing care as we would a printed piece of material. Get a second set of eyes – or at least a second person who is monitoring the site so that they quickly see any errors. 

And number two … well, let’s not post about it.