Facebook Rants

[Helpme22]

My husband and I both have very public jobs and I know that we have both been told that our Facebook pages are reflections of us and our employers.

Well last year I found my husband complaining on Facebook ... About his boss. I immediately told him to take it down! He did, reluctantly.
I rarely get on there and post but last night I noticed that he was in a verbal spat with someone. The back and forth led to names being called, the President being called a "di&k" and my husband going off about how the state we live in is a "joke" and "full of lunatics".

I immediately asked him to take it down. I was nice but I told him I thought it was a very poor reflection on both of us. He was very angry at me and said that he deserves a voice and he is "sorry if he embarrasses me".

I told him this is job preservation above everything else! He is friends with former bosses, colleagues... You name it!

He did take it down but the problem is he won't LISTEN! He is listed as married to me... And I an worried about what he's done. Especially since he has done this repeatedly ...even after promising he wouldn't.

 

[Hetta]

You could always "unmarry" him on FB, and even unfriend him. That way his comments are not a reflection on you.

 

[BRERDO]

Facebook provides a stage for opinions that usually serve no purpose but to cause problems to create drama that centers around its creator. Oh wait, that is actually most of the Internet forums and social media networks.

I hope you guys figure it out, especially since it can affect your careers.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I hope it wasn't your husband who called the President that...

That's why I keep all talks of politics to forums. I'm not ashamed of my views, I just never know who's watching FB.

You could always have him take the debates via the internal messaging system. Nobody but he and the person he's talking to could see it, but if the person he's debating with is a coworker, he shouldn't invite trouble by debating them. Public or private, those interactions can lead you to being fired.

I've known more than one person to be fired for stuff they put on FB, and more than a couple who probably should.

 

[Cute Tink]

I think your approach was well-meaning and your heart was definitely in the right place.

What I think you and your husband need to do is discuss this issue again when he is not so heated. In that moment, he was not ready to listen to your logical argument. Perhaps when he has cooled down, he will see the wisdom of watching his rants on facebook.

 

[LinkH]

You could always "unmarry" him on FB, and even unfriend him. That way his comments are not a reflection on you.

I was thinking the same thing, but do you have to click a button that says 'unmarry.' That would be hard to do.

I did not tell Facebook that I was married to my wife after she sent the request. She seemed upset that I didn't do it. I was more concerned about security than anything else. But it's quasi-password protected, and if Facebook is collecting data on us, she already let the cat out of the bag, so I clicked it, anyway. I'm not in a role where I need to be that security conscience.

Helpme,

I think you are right to be concerned about your Facebook page. Some people have been fired over things like that. Information you put on the web can also keep you from getting jobs down the line.

Maybe your husband could get some kind of account where he can post anonymously to have his voice. The problem is that some people misbehave behind a username.

 

[ChristianGolfer]

My husband and I both have very public jobs and I know that we have both been told that our Facebook pages are reflections of us and our employers.

Well last year I found my husband complaining on Facebook ... About his boss. I immediately told him to take it down! He did, reluctantly.
I rarely get on there and post but last night I noticed that he was in a verbal spat with someone. The back and forth led to names being called, the President being called a "di&k" and my husband going off about how the state we live in is a "joke" and "full of lunatics".

I immediately asked him to take it down. I was nice but I told him I thought it was a very poor reflection on both of us. He was very angry at me and said that he deserves a voice and he is "sorry if he embarrasses me".

I told him this is job preservation above everything else! He is friends with former bosses, colleagues... You name it!

He did take it down but the problem is he won't LISTEN! He is listed as married to me... And I an worried about what he's done. Especially since he has done this repeatedly ...even after promising he wouldn't.

I like to argue and I have some controversial opinions about things. I can pretty easily be drawn into debates on Facebook. So, when I was reading this I kind of identified with your husband.

One thing I would suggest is that maybe you could find a more tactful way to approach him about it. I know that if my husband TOLD me to delete a comment or something that I would be really angry with him for that.

I don't know what your tone was or your actual words to him so maybe this is a moot point.

But I can say that I would bristle and probably be stubborn if my husband told me what to do on my Facebook page.