I recently read an article where the writer wished to remind us not to “air our dirty laundry in public”- by writing and distributing e-mails that could come back to haunt.

But I must say that whilst at first glance this seemed to be obvious and good advice, some of the contents that then followed troubled me greatly-not least of all one of the quite unnecessary examples used in graphic detail to make the point:

Not so long ago some girl in receipt of what was clearly anything but an offensive e-mail decided that it would be fun to share the contents with all her friends, who in turn decided to share it with theirs and of course before long, thousands of people had read the sweet, sentiments of the “boy next door”.

Now, thousands of sniggering idiots are enjoying the ‘shame and disgrace’ of some poor misguided chap who it seems did nothing worse than to write a “love note” to some girl he had recently met.

If what was shared was the full note, then I can safely say there were no sexual innuendos, nor anything else that could possibly have caused offence. It was just a somewhat mashed up whimsical gathering of thoughts posted by some poor love-struck, forlorn chap who probably was afraid to express himself in person.

If one has a care to even reflect on the note, then yes-it does seem that he spilled his feelings all too readily and they were far too sugary perhaps. Thus, far from eliciting a smile he was instead rewarded with a viral “guffaw”.

But have not many of us been rebuffed in some way or other in our lives? And wasn’t it so that we hurt all that much more when we placed great store and hope in the outcome?

Have we not felt fragile, even when surrounded by those we knew?

Can you imagine how he must be feeling right now?

Clearly, he is not so good at judging character and he has learnt an important lesson: never to send important e-mails without a touch more consideration, even though sending heartfelt sentiments, designed not to injure or to gain points, is no sin.

However the important lesson in all this goes far beyond the dangers that lie in wait; idle people with too much technical power at their disposal, happy to create whatever mischief comes to them.

One of the most important reasons why both in business and in life there is so much strife and so much wrong is because we are far too quick to share in and enjoy the misfortune of others.

There is no honour in this.

You are never better for besting your fellow “man” at a whim.

Too many of us get away with too much especially when we are in positions of power-how we behave is not just a reflection of ourselves, but in ways more often than we even care to think about, sets the agenda for others. And so, we should not only be careful but full of care.