Dear Jacquelyn,

Maybe I am just being old-fashioned, but my grandson just announced on Facebook that he and his wife are expecting their first child in fall. We don’t live nearby, but we manage to talk on the phone every couple of months. Finding out on Facebook that I’m going to be a great grandmother hurt. It made me feel of equal importance in his life as his middle school friends. I would have liked a phone call from my grandson rather than finding out on social media. Is this the new norm or is this as rude as I think it is?

Dear Reader,

You’re not being unreasonable to feel this way.

A new baby is a really important life moment. Not so long ago, we would share huge life-changing happy news person to person. It seems somewhere along the line some people have lost this way of connecting.

It is insensitive and offensive for loved ones to reveal big news on social media before first sharing the news with close friends and family. Big events and news should always be shared in person or at least with a phone call before it’s shared publicly online.

This may be the new norm for some, but I consider it rude.

Etiquette and good manners are not an old-fashioned outdated concept. I strongly believe everyone still wants to be treated nicely and with respect.

Because of the new and rapidly expanding arena of social media, common sense and polite behavior are falling by the wayside. I am saddened there are people that ignore common courtesy online. The only “excuse” I can think of is the excitement of this major life event caused a moment of poor judgement.

People like to be treated with respect and thoughtfulness in person and online. It’s simple: act the way you’d want to be treated.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol. She is on the board of the National Civility Foundation.

All Rights Reserved &Copy; 2019 Jacquelyn Youst