Circles colliding

I'm sure many of you are familiar with that phrase. We've all had it happen: you're at a business lunch, and run into your roommate and a few buddies. Or you're on a date, and your ex is seated at the next table.

For the most part, it was rare, and when it did occur, often intentional. I'd generally make plans with one group of friends or another, or perhaps host a party (OK, more likely a BBQ) where I've invited several of my circles and I spend a lot of time introducing people. Because those situations are planned, they're generally pretty safe. For instance, if your boss is there, you might refrain from kvetching about work to your buddies as you otherwise might.

In the age of Social Networking, however, it's much harder to keep your circles separate. I have Facebook friends from elementary school, high school, college, work, old jobs, summer programs, and so forth. When I update my status on Facebook, they can all see it. Makes you think twice before changing your status to "can't wait for 5:00!" on a Friday when the guy in the office next door - or even your boss - might see that in their Facebook news feed. (And no, that doesn't mean your boss is on Facebook during the workday - s/he might see it the next time they login, whenever that might be, even if you've since changed your status again.)

At the moment, this very blog is linked from my Facebook profile. I want to share it. It's optional reading, for sure, but I'd welcome my friends to get the peek into my life that is available here on Flippish. Does that limit my choice of topics? Perhaps. Should it? That's another matter.

In the old world, context was everything. You could kvetch about work to your friend or neighbor. Everybody did that, including your boss. But make that same snide remark in the office, and it's scandalous.

So here's the issue (took me long enough!)... living in a world where circles collide and overlap via Facebook, personal blogs, etc., it's entirely likely that any snide remarks you make about a person or a job will eventually find their way to that person or your employer.

Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Will it make us all start to clam up in reaction to all this open information flow? Or will it teach us all to be a bit more diplomatic, a bit more honest, and a bit more tactful in expressing ourselves?