Cultural expectations can drive how we communicate with each other.  Etiquette is the term for  describing expected/polite behaviour in your cultural grouping (i.e,. your social setting).

Traditional forms of written and verbal communications are constrained by this cultural code.  Meanings are be softened or expressed indirectly so as not to offend.

In this senario, when someone communicates more openly than polite expectations allow,   the phrase “ tell me what you really think” is sometimes used as a sarcastic or humerous reminder or caution.

This is a rejoinder to respect the boundaries of polite society relative to ongoing discourse.  The principle is, we should avoid offending others.

Enter Social Media

A very interesting consequence of the easily created and distributed forms of social media is this faceless and indirect format has less limitations (i.e., facebook, twitter, linkedin to name a few).

I am regularly reading comments where the social media authors describe the behaviour of others in no uncertain terms.  The really unsettling part is the viewers of this content often ascribe a validity to the authors assertions that, for me anyway, is  questionable.

While I might, on occassion, slag others or euphimistically “throw them under the bus” as a rule, I always do it to their face.  This gives them an opportunity to rebutt or correct my statements.

Using social media as a platform to vent, spout off self righteuosly  or self identify as a subject matter expert, is just self demeaning to the originator..

Difficult conversations, behavioural justifications or personal attacks, however justified you believe they are, have no place in open forums.