Who does this sort of thing?
You’ll remember that about three weeks ago I was subjected to a full-on tirade by someone whom I had intended to question in a sensitive, conciliatory way about their treatment of my child. I was really upset and angry at both the injustice and how I’d been treated so I tweeted my feelings in one word. This tweet was picked up by a Twitter friend and, in an exchange of about 5 tweets, no names were mentioned.
The situation was later resolved and no more has been said about it. I gather that procedures and systems will change. I’m still not happy but you can’t always get what you want. I’d shrugged it all off.
However, this morning I had to endure being called to account by that person’s boss, whom I deeply admire and respect, and who has been nothing but professional in their dealings with me. I have had to apologise for the situation into which they have been dragged.
What happened?
Someone followed me, or was already a follower then went through my Twitter timeline to dig out that exchange. Without knowing ANY of the details – I haven’t talked about the conversation at all other than to say that I was really upset – they then reported it back to the person concerned, who has now escalated it up the organisation. I am being as oblique in this paragraph as I was in the tweet. I vented with one tweet; was then drawn out in another but still mentioned no names.
I can understand how angry he feels, but I didn’t mention any names and only about four people could have seen that tweet and deduced who he was. It wasn’t threatening, it wasn’t racist or sexist or any of those things or actionable in any way.
What sort of person would go and stir up trouble in that way?
If your friend X says something nasty about Y, why would you feel obliged to report that back to Y and cause more trouble for X? You don’t know the situation, all you are doing is making the situation worse for everyone. Including yourself, though if you’re the sort of person who would do this, you’re probably to thick to understand or too spiteful to care. And so much the worse for digging out weeks-old tweets. Why on earth would anyone do that?
The thing is, I have a pretty good idea who it was. I’m not 100% certain so I can’t take any action and they will get away with their spiteful behaviour, but if they’ve treated me like this, I can’t be expected to work with them again. I wonder who hates me so much that they’d do this to me, and I only wish I knew what I’d done to deserve this. I sort of wish I’d done something.
I’ve already had someone on Twitter suggesting I take the person concerned out for a coffee to apologise. Seriously. And now I’ve got to explain all of this to the OH and the family, who will give me THAT naughty child look and tell me all the things I know I shouldn’t do on social media. “I told you to be careful.” “Well, it’s Twitter, isn’t it?”
So I am about to write to the organisation and apologise. I am not waiting around for an apology from the person who prompted this undoubted outburst, which I knew at the time was misguided and which I regret – a bit – nor from the spiteful, vindictive person, and remember I’ve a good idea who you are, honey, who stirred up all this trouble. I hope they are now examining their conscience, if they have one.
Oh flipping heck Gita …that’s awful.
I, like you, find it difficult to comprehend some of the behaviour on social media …..probably because we would never behave like that ourselves.
I do find it hard to accept that we are hated by people we have never met ….but we both know that is the case.
But it’s even worse when you know who the offending person is.
I really hope this is all resolved as painlessly as possible ….
And your blog bounced onto my screen at exactly the right moment as I was about to tweet what would, no doubt, be something ill-advised .
Hugs xx
Thank you Rosie. I know I should not have tweeted that word. But I was sorely provoked and angry.
Clearly the individual responsible for “tattling” has no conscience. Loathsome individual whoever they are. Hope they expose themselves and are censured for their behaviour. *Hugs* x
Thank you James. I am drawing a few lessons from this episode.
Twitter is a mare sometimes. I have bitten my tongue for a while over someone’s goading but sadly, about an hour before reading your blog today, I exploded. Well, a little and with aplomb. Sometimes it is good to vent those feelings, but there is always a downside. I would rather be free to express and take the consequences. Petty people such as your snitch are very sad indeed.
It’s made me think that I’m not safe anywhere saying anything. I know that’s pretty silly. I know I shouldn’t have used that word but digging back three weeks…
The more I think about it, the more I think how petty and childish this person was to snitch on you. I hope you’re feeling better today, although I’m sure it still hurts. x
Yes, thank you Annette. Though that sums it up pretty well. Still, I have bigger fish to fry.
……and as I didn’t see the twitter post …..I’m itching to know what the heck the offending WORD was ……
It was rather inelegant.