"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." - Marilyn Monroe
I have to admit: I have been obsessed with YouTube lately. Well not really obsessed, but I have been searching through and watching all of the fun celeb blogs (The Miley & Mandy Show, Demi & Selena...). And I want you to check this out - it's a short clip from one of Taylor Swift's vlogs.
Now, I love Taylor Swift. I think she is talented and sweet and beautiful and most of all, fearless. I mean, she writes songs about anyone, and she's never afraid of what they will think. But what about this video - do you think she went too far? Sure, it is super-funny. And I bet if you asked Taylor, she'd say he got what he deserved. But for some reason, this just feels like too much to me. Maybe it's just like writing a song, but that seems different - that's art. This is just a joke.
You really just have to be so careful when you decide to put something online. I don't think you should be afraid to say what you want to say, but you should be careful about posting something you'll regret. When we're embarrassed, angry, or broken-hearted, we tend to speak without thinking - things that you may not really feel or believe if you were thinking clearly. But if you post those things on YouTube, Myspace, or Facebook, they're no longer yours - they belong to all 500 of your "friends." You want people to see you as a Fab Gal, not as you in a Drama Queen moment.
What do you think FGs? Did Taylor take it too far? Was it just plain funny? Would you (or have you) put something like that online? Leave a comment to let me know!
So today I was watching the news, and I thought of you. They were covering the case of Megan Meier, who committed suicide after getting lots of nasty notes from a Myspace "friend," who she thought was 16 year-old Josh Evans but was actually a 49 year-old woman, her neighbor. It was such a sad, horrible thing to happen to a Fab Gal, but we can take something from this tragedy.
I don't want to sound like a mom, saying that Facebook and Myspace and all the social networking sites are ruing our generation. In fact, I think that these sites are great for talking to friends, sharing photos, and of course, keeping up with gossip (c'mon, you know you do it too). But you have to be careful; the web is NOT a good place meet someone new. What we love so much about these sites is the control we have over how people see us, but people can abuse that power, as in Megan's case. You, Fab Gal, do not need to be a victim, as long as you stay smart.
Here are the top FG tips for social networking safety:
Don't add people you don't know - It might seem self-explanatory, but a lot of gals ignore this rule. The Internet might seem safe, but you have no clue what is really happening on the other side. Your mama said don't talk to strangers, and the Internet is no different.
Watch what you put on your profile - Do not put any personal contact info, like youraddress or cell phone number on your page, and set your profile to private (each site will allow you to change security settings). And as a general guideline, don't put anything up you wouldn't want your grandma to see.
Don't take nasty messages - If someone starts to harass you online, stop communications right away. Myspace, as well as the other sites, will let you block or report a cyber-bully.
Listen to your intuition - If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, don't hesitate. Your intuition is usually right, so don't ignore it.
Hopefully that helps set you on the right path. Learn more about cyberbullying at STOP Cyberbullying. If you are a myYearbook user, sign the Megan Pledge to prevent cyberbullying.
How about you, FG? Do you use Myspace, Facebook, myYearbook, or another social networking site? Leave a comment to let me know what you think about them.
xoxo
The Fab Gal
FG Update: Check out the new poll feature located on the side!
