January 10, 2012
In today’s world, using the Internet to connect with people has become an important way to stay in touch. Social networking sites are a great way to find people you haven’t spoken to in a long time and to keep up with your closest friends.
They can really help to dispel the loneliness the yachting lifestyle sometimes creates. After a long round of holiday charters, it feels good to log onto Facebook and see what your fellow yachties have been up to.
But what happens when you log on and find a friend request from the captain, or the chief stew (with whom you’ve just had an argument)? Is it wise to connect with colleagues or higher-ups?
That’s a tough question. In yachting, our business and personal lives are already blurred. We are expected to be available 24/7 as it is, but how do you react when you go off duty and discover your co-worker has been posting about your recent falling out?
There are huge “netiquette” issues surrounding interactive social media, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. It’s a struggle to develop rules and standards for how to use these modern communication tools.
At issue is our professional persona.
In yachting, we live in a close environment, often much closer than we would like. It is important to try to maintain some sense of privacy and not be too familiar with those we are sharing a space with.
That is one of the tenets of Social Responsibility from STCW class. How do we keep our various “selves” intact: the self we are with friends, the self we are with family, and our professional self?
Many times, younger crew have not yet developed a professional persona. They do not understand how valuable their reputation is, and how easy it is to damage. Be careful what you post.
Some boats have strict rules about cell phone/smart phone usage, but it is tough to monitor. How much productivity is lost by crew who are constantly tweeting, texting or checking e-mail and Facebook? Probably considerably more than the 10 percent lost by smokers on the job.
Standards develop over time, and policies evolve. I remember when the first Blackberry phones came out. I worked with a deckhand who had one, and he seemed to constantly be distracted and messing with his phone.
Needless to say, it annoyed all of us. When the infamous Blackberry fell into the drink one day, we were all relieved.
Nowadays, almost everyone is guilty of such bad behavior, myself included. In the past 2 or 3 years I have seen people, including captains, become obsessed with their iPhones. As rude as it is to be checking your phone when you are in the company of others, it has nearly become socially acceptable behavior.
As we introduce people into the workplace, they bring with them standards of behavior that gradually become accepted. What is acceptable varies from boat to boat. So what’s a stew to do?
Personally, I think we must rely on individual accountability. Set a good example for your co-workers, and talk to your superiors about what is acceptable social media behavior.
One of the biggest problems is the tendency to give out too much of the wrong information. Communication via social media is somewhat de-personalized, and it is hard to control the subtle nuances of tone and meaning. What we might intend to be sarcasm could come off as an insult, for instance.
And remember that even though you may think you are only reaching your immediate friends and contacts, the information you post could actually reach millions of people.
Sensitive information that you post about the crew or the boat and its location, itinerary and guests may constitute not just a breach of etiquette, but may be a breach of contract as well, with legal ramifications. Maybe you shouldn’t post those photos of the amazing parties that you attended over the holidays.
It amazes me how much our perceptions about improper etiquette change over time. Let’s remember that we are the process of creating standards for proper “netiquette.” Let’s resolve to keep our wits about us.
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