I can’t believe it. I’m turning into my Mother. I’m here repeating all the parent tapes that run through my brain: “think before you speak”, “don’t put anything into writing -or on video- you wouldn’t want your grandmother to read (or see)”, “the only secret you have is the one you don’t share”, “don’t run with a sharp stick in your hand”. Oh wait, that last one doesn’t belong in this blog… but maybe it should.

In the category of thinking before you speak we have Kenneth Cole (check out Shelly Kramer’s great blog from the 4th) using the civil unrest in Egypt to promote his new spring collection. And now Groupon has joined in the controversy, with ads linking them to Tibet, Save the Whales, and Save the Rainforests. The thing that might be the saving grace for Groupon is that if you go to savethemoney.groupon.com and make a donation of $15 you get a $15 Groupon credit.

Then of course there is what you don’t want your grandmother to read (or see). Our latest example is the pop star in Indonesia, 29 year old Nazril Irham who happened to make a sex tape (why?) that he says was stolen from him and then leaked to the internet. He was just sentenced to 3 1/2 years in jail. Seriously, hasn’t he learned from Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian what can happen when you make a sex tape? Oh wait, that is what launched Kim’s career – never mind….

Why do people think they can put something on Facebook and it will be a “secret”. Remember earlier this year the teacher from the Massachusetts high school, June Talvitie-Siple who made a post to her Facebook wall that ended up getting her fired. Don’t put something on Facebook that you want kept a secret – Facebook is not Las Vegas (what happens on Facebook, does not stay on Facebook!).

Remember, when you are “giving your status” on Facebook, “tweeting” on Twitter, “updating” on LinkedIn, etc., you are representing your brand, just as much as when you air a Super Bowl ad. What you say can have a lasting effect on your audience. You want to be sure that you leave a good impression. Be sure that what you say reflects well on you and your brand. Be sure that you won’t mind seeing it again in twenty years, because what happens on the internet, stays on the internet.

And remember, don’t run with a sharp stick, you could fall and hurt yourself!