As I have mentioned in numerous articles the concept of identity is one that I truly fell in love with in my first year of undergrad.  To be able to understand the components of what cements a self-identity which cannot be broken by anyone.  How each step of a resilient story brings one to the next page, step, tier, either to the oubliette or parapet depending upon which pathway is the one you’ve decided to follow. Everyone on the planet has a right to a path of their choosing; however, what if that lane is steeped in human vampires, not the type who want to drain your body dry of all 1.5 gallons of blood; even worse, your identity, and everything that you have built through the pyre of stages on your lifespan. The concept of etiquette is sometimes lost when others want to steal the identity of a human being.

                Over the last few weeks, there have been constant bursts of time in which I’ve focused on the topic of social media etiquette and what Emily Post would think of our contemporary technologically advanced world.  I should preface this by stating, I have not read Etiquette, although I am determined to read it during the summertime.  I am genuinely curious about what Emily would think about Social Media, and how individuals could have a profound connection through an online meet cute. Or even what she would think about individuals on Social Media sending connection requests to people they hardly know.   For example, there are a myriad of internet faux pas which include: as I’ve learned from the Cyber Crime class of my Victimology graduate certificate of not only cyberbullying, but also keyboard warriors. In addition, to sending a Facebook or LinkedIn request to a friend of a friend that one barely knows for the position of clout. Either way, one should consider their digital footprint when a desire to connect with others is present. Although, things on the internet can be deleted and removed after it has been posted; it is never completely gone and could still be found in an online archive in some obscure digital library.

                The tragedy is that there will always be individuals who are soul-sucking vampires, who want to steal or are envious of what others have built.  What you don’t know, even if you may have a pinhole peek into someone’s world, you have no idea what they have had to endure to be at the level they are at.  One of the most valuable byproducts of who we are is our identity. Not in a financial kind of way, but in the marrow and bone of who we are as human beings, what are soul permits us to be checked by; not only etiquette, but also to understand that there are a myriad of ways to do things and etiquette and kindness should be considered.