It is hard enough to write a great Steemit post with a sober mind (or at least it is for me). So how well can we communicate when we are being influenced by other forces?
Since Steemit records our posts, comments, and replies for anyone to see, I highly recommend refraining from clicking the Steemit POST button when you are under the influence of ...
Alcohol and Drugs
We all have different opinions about the use of drugs and alcohol. And the purpose of this post is not to argue those differences, but it seems wise to refrain from Steeming when under the influence of substances that can alter your thoughts and/or behaviors.
Although an incoherent post or reply written in a drunken stupor may give a lot of people a good laugh, it may be a poor reflection on your personal brand or business initiatives on Steemit.
Remember that Steemit records every transaction (posts, comments, replies, and payments).
- These transactions are available for anyone to see (ranging from present-day friends to future business partners).
- These transactions are immutable (unchangeable) after 7 days when payment is received.
I understand that some people can harness their creative skills when using alcohol or drugs, but if we are honest, most of us do not put our best foot forward when we are not of sober mind.
Anger
I have seen some incredible work from fellow Steemians who are struggling emotionally. They write beautifully despite their pain and sadness. But anger, which is one of the hardest emotions to control in my opinion, can start to control us in a different kind of way. When we are angry we tend to act defensively, instead of proactively.
I believe that anger is a valid emotion, and there are times when it needs to be expressed. But once anger is unleashed it is very challenging to draw it back in. The ripple effect of anger can be far-reaching. Something shared with one person will be shared with many, and because of the transparency of our community, a single message can be shared with anyone.
Be careful what you write in anger, and be even more careful about what you post in anger.
Exhaustion
After a long day and running low on fumes, most of us are more likely to write poor quality posts and replies. Not only do we become more vulnerable to making typos and grammatical errors, we also are likely to make other mistakes.
For instance, a quick reply that can normally convey a strong message is weaker and easier to misinterpret. Misinterpretation can happen at any time of the day, but especially when we are tired and running low on energy. Our minds are just not as sharp.
Miscommunication can happen because of the sender and/or receiver. If we want to improve the effectiveness of our message, we should try to eliminate any barriers in our current situation that impacts our awareness and ability to communicate. Exhaustion can be as equally impactful on a message as alcohol or anger.
Get your rest and Steem on. Be careful when writing late-night posts and comments/replies.
Your Turn
Let's continue the conversation in the comments section.
- Have you ever written a comment or reply that you wish you could take back?
- Has does writing articles in an altered state of mind impact your writing skills? Do you feel more creative or more out of control?
- What other factors impact our ability to write quality posts and interact well with our community?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Image Sources:
https://pixabay.com/en/drink-glass-alcohol-bar-whisky-3108436/
https://pixabay.com/en/depression-man-anger-sadness-2912404/
https://pixabay.com/en/boy-male-man-young-sleeping-828850/