My wife reminded me of a person from our past who simply touched us both because she was good to us and sincere. Now almost 20 years since I last spoke to her, I am reminded of words she spoke often but are just as true today as they were then: No matter what is said or done, true colors always come out.
Honestly, I was too young and ignorant at the time to even get that. Now, I have a few more years on me and little more awareness in me and I really appreciate Evelyn’s words. In particular, I am seeing it more and more as the Internet ‘evolves’. I use the term evolves loosely because honestly, in some cases I think the way we use this tool has set human kind back centuries but that’s for another day.
So how in social media will the “True Colors” rule play out? Let’s explore. In fact, I am going to look at a specific color today: green and a few of its different manifestations in the social world.
- Green as in money – If your intent is only to get someone to eventually buy something for you without any TRUE concern for a relationship you will be found out as someone not to be trusted completely. If money is the end game of everything you do in social media you will be limited in your success
- Green with envy – If you are looking at others success and you are envious rather than supportive you will be found out. Your petty grievances will make you a ‘hater’ or a ‘troll’ and a general drag on interactions. As a result you will be cast out.
- Green with jealousy – See Green with Envy
- Green as in environment – This is a tricky one. I see Al Gore as the poster child for using this to a level of personal advantage while masking it in ‘doing good’. As a result he is starting to look buffoonish and more of a caricature. Hey but he’s making money, right?! Geesh. On the other hand you really care about the environment and do something that unifies and mobilizes rather than monetizes then you are on to something.
- Green as in go – If you take the color green to mean going forward and being positive you will be found out. As a result you may actually make some money, build some trust and help out people along the way.
So as I look at the primary colors I wonder what other true colors might mean. We’ll talk about it later.
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