Quote:
Originally Posted by Sperkowsky
Very well said.
However, in life you will always represent your 'team'.
Say for instance I work for Nasa. If I go on a message board with "Nasa engineer" in my bio whatever I do will reflect the company. Or, if I wear my Nasa uniform and rob a bank. Guess what Nasa looks very bad.
The bottom line is your actions usually do not just reflect upon yourself. Its definitely something I struggle with time to time.
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Thanks for the compliment, but I will respectfully disagree.
No you don't represent them just because you are wearing a shirt. Observers might choose to decide you represent them, but the fact of the matter is that you don't. More broadly, John and Jane Doe aren't authorized to represent the totality (or whatever is the right term) of every organization that they belong to.
If I put on a NASA shirt to rob a bank, am I representing NASA? No, I'm a bank robber who is wearing a NASA shirt.
I'l bet you a vary large amount that if you name an obnoxious, vile, or despicable sentiment, attitude, or behavior; that at least 9 out of 10 times you can find someone employed by NASA who believes or does it. Do they represent NASA, no, unless ..... I decide to let them represent NASA in my own mind.
Again, I realize that I am trying to sweep back the ocean; but it would nice if observers would put more effort into deciding not to let individuals become the representation of groups.
Acknowledging that it does happen is one thing. Saying that it *should* happen is another. Saying that we expect it from each other, and reinforcing and/or rewarding that expectation, is being lazy.
Turning down the "you always represent your team" mantra would lower the impetus to create anonymous accounts in some discussions.
YMMV
Blake