social networking/blog goggles

I was playing around with gmail and I went to the "lab."

In there was a little program called "email goggles." It's for when you've had a long night involving adult beverages. See, some people, some times, after a long night involving adult beverages, go home and fire off a bunch of emails. These emails often times lead to regret the next morning after they've sobered up. So what this little program does is give the emailer a few math problems to solve. If he or she can solve them, it sends it. If he or she can't, they don't get sent.

Brilliant.

I'm not a big drinker (I don't like being drunk; I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to my dignity... at least in most situations), so goggles have never really been something I've needed. But I have learned a few things about blogging and even facebooking. (I'd also mention twittering, but since only complete strangers are following me and all the people I'm following are either news agencies or are famous actors, it doesn't really matter.)

But here's what I know.

1. Never blog when pissed off at someone you have to deal with on a daily basis. I don't care how bad you have to vent. Unless you want to piss off friends and colleagues and alienate them, the blog is not the right place to lose it entirely. Ranting about other stuff is fine. Having strong words about politics, that's fine. But airing out your dirty laundry and gossip HERE is never a good idea. Go write it in a journal. Complain to your best friend or call up Aunt Birdie (she's always such a good listener). But if you blog it, prepare for a good ass chewing when you least expect it. Because people read blogs. I mean, they read other people's blogs, but not mine.

I'm just throwing this out there in case someone else happens upon this stunning mess.

2. Along that same vein, don't allude to work crap in your blog. If you're clever enough, you can mention the situation in very vague terms, but if you get too detailed, then shit can get out of hand and go directly to hell, do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars.

I just noticed I'm looking at worst case scenarios.

Actually, I'm kinda irritated right now. I should go drink some coffee and get on the happy wagon. I'll be back.