Robin's Hood

I think I experienced a case of "Facebook Frankness" last week.

I was using the company social software Jive SBS (like Facebook but for the enterprise) when I came across a discussion about the iPod Touch. Now I think the iPod Touch is a pointless device bought only by Apple fan-boys and I said so. I got into a frank exchange of views with an individual who turned out to be the Chief Technical Architect of one of the company's major divisions. To put this in context this is someone way further up the pecking order than me. This is somebody who I would normally be much more respectful towards. On several levels I felt this person didn't know what they were talking about and I told them in a very public way. I had lunch with a colleague today who knows this person and told me that they thought the same about me.

So Facebook Frankness allowed me to make much more aggressive comments than I would if I was talking face to face. Have I burnt my bridges with this individual or strengthened his respect for my honesty? Definitely the former.

I felt protected. I was frustrated. I was honest. I was frank. I didn't know what I was doing, but I did it anyway. I couldn't help myself. I am sorry. No I am not. I am sorry. No I am not. I am sorry. No I am not.