I’m giving you a note of warning: I’m climbing up on my soapbox this morning, so if you don’t want to read my ranting about bad social media manners, please check back tomorrow for a fun and easy recipe!
I have recently been appalled and disgusted by the frequent bad manners used online and in social media outlets.
Whether you are using social media as a tool for a business, as a way to connect with old and new friends or just because everyone else is doing it and you didn’t want to be left out, at the end of the day, it all boils down to one things: relationships. Some relationships are already established, some are being newly formed, some have yet to gain footing. The one thing each and every relationship needs in our online world is respect and civility. Use the good manners you would use in person!
When you fail to respond to messages, pretend you didn’t receive an event invitation or in general ignore someone when they have made a point of contacting you, it is bad manners. You need to respond to the person whether your response is a yes or a no, whether you are interested or not. If the person was standing in front of you asking a question, would you turn around and walk off? Would you suddenly look at them as if they were invisible? Would you pretend they didn’t exist? Of course you wouldn’t! So respond to online questions and invitations with the same courtesy you’d extend in person.
Seriously, how hard is to hit the “yes,” “no,” or “maybe” button? You’ve lost, what, 2 seconds out of your busy day? But at least the person who contacted you knows where you stand. That is all people want – a response. They don’t want your blood, your first born or your undying commitment to something. They just want a response.
The next time you receive a message or an invitation and you aren’t interested, politely say so. Please. Many people will thank you for it.
From Miss Manners Soapbox,
Shanna
Savvy Entertaining 
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