What's the best way to say "don't say anything"?
October 8, 2014 1:46 PM Subscribe
I'm working on a social media response protocol (similar to the Air Force classic template here), but trying to come up with a pithy Golden Rule along the lines of "If you don't say anything, you can be almost certain that you're not making things worse". But... better. Ideas?
I'm trying as best I can to stay positive and assume my readers are intelligent, so "If you don't say anything you can't say anything dumb" sorts of things are off the table.
What's a pithy, memorable way of telling people that generally speaking, just not engaging on social media and in comments is the best default course of action?
I'm trying as best I can to stay positive and assume my readers are intelligent, so "If you don't say anything you can't say anything dumb" sorts of things are off the table.
What's a pithy, memorable way of telling people that generally speaking, just not engaging on social media and in comments is the best default course of action?
Loose lips sink ships. In fact you could go all WWII on this one and co-opt the anti spy propaganda of the age. http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-history/at-a-glance/propaganda-posters.html
posted by Gungho at 1:50 PM on October 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Gungho at 1:50 PM on October 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
En bocas cerradas no entran moscas.
"In closed mouths, flies don't enter."
I can't say where or how I picked up that idiom.
posted by notyou at 1:55 PM on October 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
"In closed mouths, flies don't enter."
I can't say where or how I picked up that idiom.
posted by notyou at 1:55 PM on October 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
"Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig likes it."
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:56 PM on October 8, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:56 PM on October 8, 2014 [8 favorites]
I like phunniemee's KISS approach. Something to consider is what I've found to be the main trouble - but it's left wholly un-addressed in the USAF guidance. The flow chart first asks, "Is it positive or balanced?" then moves from there.
But it never asks, "Is it negative AND true?"
posted by j_curiouser at 1:57 PM on October 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
But it never asks, "Is it negative AND true?"
posted by j_curiouser at 1:57 PM on October 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The notoriously terse Calvin Coolidge once said, "I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm."
This may be his longest speech on record.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:59 PM on October 8, 2014 [18 favorites]
This may be his longest speech on record.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:59 PM on October 8, 2014 [18 favorites]
No response is better than a bad one.
posted by cecic at 2:02 PM on October 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by cecic at 2:02 PM on October 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
"A closed mouth gathers no feet."
posted by Wretch729 at 2:10 PM on October 8, 2014 [11 favorites]
posted by Wretch729 at 2:10 PM on October 8, 2014 [11 favorites]
Least said, soonest mended.
posted by orrnyereg at 2:11 PM on October 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by orrnyereg at 2:11 PM on October 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
You may find this piece of satire useful in the "What Not To Do" way.
posted by Diablevert at 2:15 PM on October 8, 2014
posted by Diablevert at 2:15 PM on October 8, 2014
Best answer: There's the THINK filter to help you consider your words before you say something:
Is it True?
Is it Helpful?
Is it Inspiring?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?
posted by mochapickle at 2:18 PM on October 8, 2014 [8 favorites]
Is it True?
Is it Helpful?
Is it Inspiring?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?
posted by mochapickle at 2:18 PM on October 8, 2014 [8 favorites]
“Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing.”—Robert Benchley
(I guess there is some controversy over the attribution)
posted by doctor tough love at 2:24 PM on October 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
(I guess there is some controversy over the attribution)
posted by doctor tough love at 2:24 PM on October 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Assuming you're talking about a potentially expensive PR campaign to repair some kind of damage: 'talk is NOT cheap.'
posted by jamjam at 2:44 PM on October 8, 2014
posted by jamjam at 2:44 PM on October 8, 2014
The less said the better.
posted by Rob Rockets at 3:07 PM on October 8, 2014
posted by Rob Rockets at 3:07 PM on October 8, 2014
Maybe not exactly for your circumstance, but in situations where there is a lot of chatter (real or virtual) I remind myself: If you're adding to the noise, SHUT UP.
posted by The Deej at 4:21 PM on October 8, 2014
posted by The Deej at 4:21 PM on October 8, 2014
Best answer: Nobody ever got fired for staying quiet on social media.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 4:34 PM on October 8, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by the agents of KAOS at 4:34 PM on October 8, 2014 [4 favorites]
If you don't say anything, you don't say anything wrong.
posted by DGStieber at 4:35 PM on October 8, 2014
posted by DGStieber at 4:35 PM on October 8, 2014
Let it go.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:37 PM on October 8, 2014
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:37 PM on October 8, 2014
Does this need to be said?
Does this need to be said right now?
Does this need to be said right now by me?
-- Craig Ferguson.
Came into the thread to say "Least said, soonest mended" but I also like "Nobody ever got fired for what they didn't say on social media."
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:43 PM on October 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
Does this need to be said right now?
Does this need to be said right now by me?
-- Craig Ferguson.
Came into the thread to say "Least said, soonest mended" but I also like "Nobody ever got fired for what they didn't say on social media."
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:43 PM on October 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
The pig version is great because it takes all personal judgement out of the situation. If your message is just - don't engage- which is probably a good one for a broad spectrum policy, this says that. It also has the benefit of not insulting your audience because the rationale for not engaging is that 'other' person is the problem. Finally, it reminds ppl that in certain situations (and social media is probably just that situation), even engaging at all is deletorious.
I also think your own phrasing in the question is pretty good.
posted by jojobobo at 8:04 PM on October 8, 2014
I also think your own phrasing in the question is pretty good.
posted by jojobobo at 8:04 PM on October 8, 2014
"Taste your words before you spit them out"
WAIT = why am I talking?
posted by jessamyn at 8:42 PM on October 8, 2014
WAIT = why am I talking?
posted by jessamyn at 8:42 PM on October 8, 2014
The internet is near capacity.
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:12 PM on October 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:12 PM on October 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Shut up, he explained. (Ring Lardner)
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:55 AM on October 9, 2014
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:55 AM on October 9, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by phunniemee at 1:50 PM on October 8, 2014 [15 favorites]