A Tale of Two T-Shirts by Andy Scheer

It was like social media with fabric
I'm big into antique cars and antique jazz. So a few weekends back, for two of the days I attended the Evergreen (Colorado) Jazz festival, I wore car-themed T-shirts. Both days, they resulted in friendly conversations.

The first day, several people who saw my shirt asked about the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg festival, held every Labor Day weekend in Auburn, Indiana. Both fast and luxurious, the Duesenberg gave rise to the expression, “It's a Duesey.”

The second day, a guy asked about my T-shirt for the Cussler Museum. (Author of numerous action-adventure stories, Clive Cussler has collected exotic autos for forty years. He maintains a museum of some 75 cars in nearby Arvada, Colorado.) Turns out that Walt, like Clive Cussler, is also a diver and likes antique autos. He's even read several of the Dirk Pitt adventure novels.

With several common interests, Walt and I hit it off. He gave me his full attention as I described Cussler's car collection. He had no objection when I gave him the museum location and its hours. He didn't mind hearing details about the cars.

This weekend, Walt sent me an email saying he'd had a great visit to the museum. “Would never have known about it had I not seen your T-shirt,” he said. “ Indebted for your info.”

Kind of like how social media's meant to work. I simply wore the shirt, allowing anyone interested to make a comment. Nothing pushy. No attempts to sell people products. Nothing to insult people who didn't share my views.

Lately on Facebook, I've increasingly found myself clicking the option to turn off similar posts from certain individuals. Even if I fit their target market (do my “friends” really think I want to attend an online party to buy makeup?), I don't sign on to “social media” so people can try to sell me things.

Knowing I'm in the minority about really liking old cars and old jazz, maybe I'm also in the minority in my opinion of people using social media to give their “friends” a hard sell. But maybe not.

Appropriate or Inappropriate Social Media Posts? By Diana Flegal

I like to pray for people. Some might call it a ministry- but since I lean heavily on God for my own daily life, it is an easy thing for me to bring you with me in my conversations with him.

BUT- when you post a prayer request on FB do you have to show me your husband in a hospital gown with a nasal candela in his nose? That is way to intimate a picture for me- who has never met the man. And I cannot really see him appreciating it much. 

INAPPROPRIATE!

Or how about describing your post nasal drip, or the excessive gas bloating your tummy, or the oozing sore that makes it hard for you to sit down? 

INAPPROPRIATE! 

A more appropriate post would be to post a picture of your husband smiling and interacting with his grandchildren or even an anniversary photo of the two of you in happier times stating; My dear husband John is in need of your prayers. We had to take him to the hospital last evening. Thank you very much.

APPROPRIATE!

Or; I am experiencing back pain that is keeping me from enjoying my writing, or; folks I am standing in the need of prayer right now.

APPROPRIATE!

There is a difference between personal, family, and public situations. Please stick to appropriate posts dear Facebook friends.   Otherwise I might have to hide or unfriend you.