It started to strike me when a business friend posted an I-went-skiing photo on his profile after a winter sports holiday. The Matterhorn reflected wildly in the glass of his Oakley. It took me a moment to recognize him. But the message was clear: that at his age he still plays sports like a young god and that he can afford such an Alpine trip even in times of crisis. The whole thing made a slightly intimidating impression.
A day later I checked the profile of an applicant. We are looking for an assistant at our internet agency. A lady who dribbles hiply between the scaffolding desks and industrial lamps with cups of coffee. She was hip, with her Ray-Bans, but whether she looked accurate, stress-resistant and punctual, I could not tell.
Deep in the eyes
Then it was Friday afternoon, no more customers were bahrain mobile phone number list calling and the last level of Candy Crush had been played. Time to google an old love. I typed in a name from the past and landed on his LinkedIn profile with one click. A wealthy shirt from a well-known brand, slightly graying temples and a nice senior frown above – yes – sunglasses. A shame. How I would have loved to look that man deeply in the eyes again…
It turned out to be warp and woof, once I had seen it. A significant percentage of the Dutch working population portrays themselves with sunglasses. From casual car selfies to all-inclusive holiday snaps. From shy types who hide behind dark glass as if in the dark to cool beards with ego-enhancing frames. A quick trip through LinkedIn yields the following:
glasses
I'm a little shocked by it. All those people want contact, right? Business opportunities, a new job, a colleague's consultation or a flirt? Right? With those glasses it's like they're shaking hands with someone over and over again and looking the other way. Contact without eye contact, that's not going to happen, people. Take off those glasses.
Désirée Battjes wonders every week on Frankwatching.com about online etiquette . Or rather the lack thereof. Because Facebook may be celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, but do we all know how things should be on social media? How should things actually be done in the virtual world? Time for some online etiquette, with a large grain of salt. Do you have an opinion too? Bring on that opinion, it will only make the internet better.
Source photo intro: Freeimages.com | Creazine