To ask what you would think of a colleague posting on social media?

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I have lost quite a lot of weight and started running. I initially started posting about running about a month ago on social media as a way to keep me accountable, but it’s sort of taken off and I’ve gained 1200 followers in a month. I’m really enjoying posting and sharing, and I’ve got quite a little community going with other women.

But I’m a little bit worried about my colleagues finding out. Not because I’m embarrassed of what I’ve posted (it’s mainly just photos or short videos), but because I feel like it’s quite cringeworthy until you hit a decent amount of followers. So what would you think if you found out about your colleague doing this?

YABU - shut it down, you’re an adult and don’t need to post.

YANBU - keep posting, it’s great.

For heaven’s sake, @LiviaDrusillaAugusta, it’s overwhelmingly evident from all of your posts, as well as your frequent declarations that you loathe all the world apart from ten people, that you are an unusually cantankerous human being.

@Thepeopleversuswork is s generally well-disposed poster who often gives generous, sane advice.

I’ll let you take a wild guess who is coming across across as unpleasant here.

Oh so her post wasn’t aggressive? I posted then I clarified but for some reason she went off on one, accusing me of jealously and being spiteful. A couple of PP even pointed out that I hadnt done anything wrong. I did not post anything spiteful - and yet here we are 🤣🤣

If a normal person I knew in real life had 1200 followers I'd think that was a lot! It would only be cringe if you were always going on about it at work and acting like you were some big name influencer, but you're clearly not doing that.

To be honest I find posts about people’s running quite tiresome and egotistical but that is the same whether they’re colleagues or not. If I’m not that bothered about them, I’ll just unfollow. If it’s an actual friend and I’m bothered about their other posts then I’ll just scroll past the latest strava screengrab.

Maybe I was aggressive in my tone and if I was I apologise.

But I stand by what I said: its uniquely mean spirited to sneer at someone who has screwed up all their courage to post about something which means a great deal to them. Particularly if they are literally canvassing views on this board as to what other people will think. And particularly if its something entirely benign.

If, in response to this, a person types s post to the effect of: “its a bit boring and cringe and I would be rolling my eyes” it can’t come from a kind or supportive place. You are knowingly choosing to let someone who is insecure know that you think their content is shit/cringe/dull or whatever. It’s completely without purpose other than to subtly convey your superiority. Why wouldn’t you just keep it to yourself if you genuinely couldn’t be bothered to read it?

I will own that I may have used intemperate language but you ought to be able to own that your motive in telling this poster how “eye-rolling” she is was to put her down.

I appreciate your comments about the tone,

The OP asked So what would you think if you found out about your colleague doing this?

Not ‘what do you think about me doing this’

i was answering the question literally.

People are interpreting an eye roll to be aggressive - to me it’s not. There is no malice in following someone and then unfollowing if their posts go down a different direction that isn’t interesting to the person previously following them.

It wasn’t to put anyone down personally, and I apologise to the OP if it came across like that. I was talking generally.

Is this just a humble brag thread?

@LiviaDrusillaAugusta

People are interpreting an eye roll to be aggressive - to me it’s not. There is no malice in following someone and then unfollowing if their posts go down a different direction that isn’t interesting to the person previously following them.

It is a question of interpretation. I agree that there’s nothing wrong with not following someone but I do think an eye roll is dismissive and sneery.

It depends on the tone of the content I think.

If it is a bit "Hi guuuyyyssssss!! Welcome back to chaaaanel ...." then yeah cringe

If it is more "checking in. Ran x miles, pace ok-ish. Avoided biscuits. It's a good day! Here's some ducklings I ran past earlier.... pleased to report they didnt overtake me" then that is less cringe if you see what I mean

That’s your opinion. Not sure why you would assume you know my intentions better than me but okay

If you were my colleague I’d just be delighted for you and follow your successful journey! Im
sure the majority are cheering you on. Go you!

Would think absolutely nothing negative. Would just say cool good for you!

If your not comfortable with this just block them. I wouldn't give them a second thought.

Then get on with becoming fitter, healthier and happier.

I'd probably just unfollow since that isn't the sorta stuff I'm interested in seeing, and then never think about it again! Not in a mean way, but like I wouldn't find it cringe.

Lots of people in my company have fairly successful social accounts. Most post about their hobbies or holidays. One lady post about her religion. Everyone loves it and follows each other. There’s no judgement but really good lunch room chats take place off the back of posts. I think it’s a great thing to do.

It's fine. It's not onlyfans after all. Stop worrying.

I wouldn’t care that much about someone else’s life to give a second thought to what they were posting.

Respectfully, you aren’t that important.

One of my colleagues has 12,000 followers on Instagram. I’m really pleased for her!

Really? This is about running. I had a colleague that had a Facebook page of incredibly racist views backed up by ill informed hogwash and I judged the shit out of him.

this is a hobby and I would either follow or not based on whether I was interested in the hobby. I think it depends on the social media platform. I think LinkedIn and running may be a bit misplaced but Instagram or something go ahead.

Bravo well done for achieving it, not cringeworthy at all keep going!!

Would your work colleagues even know how many followers you have?
Is that genuinely a thing that adults look at?

A humble brag… about my 56 minute 6k run yesterday?🤣

This is a very important point.

I’d ask yourself why do you care though?
It’s your hobby and you are finding it helpful and enjoyable. It’s not boring anymore- if they don’t like running they don’t follow you.
I wouldn’t mention it to colleagues unless they were interested in running but if one came across it then it’s just your hobby. Our team have a wide range of hobbies.
I have over 15,000 followers as a middle aged woman. I’ve never specifically told colleagues but if one came across it I wouldn’t mind. What I post isn’t controversial or offensive. It’s built into a little community and I enjoy it if I didn’t I’d stop.

Why shouldn’t my colleagues post about running? I’m not a runner but I’d be mildly impressed by this. Good luck