I’ve talked about how I think posting about politics on facebook can hurt authors. I take no sides on this issue. I think political posts can be harmful if you’re trying to build a readership. Readers care about the books you’re writing, not about your politics. Of course there are some exceptions. I’ve seen smart, well written posts about politics that left me respecting the author…whether I agree or not. But most aren’t like that.

But this post isn’t about politics. This is different. I’ve posted about how ranting on all social networks, in a general sense, can hurt authors. And tonight I saw something else that really floored me.

An author…and someone I like, too…ranted, on facebook, about not flirting with her boyfriend on facebook. Meee-Ow!! At first I thought it was a joke. But when I read more in the comments I realized it wasn’t.

Of course there are no rules about things like this, and whether I like it or not means nothing. When I see people in their twenties posting jealous rants about other facebook friends flirting with their significant others I not only find it amusing, I find it endearing. We’ve all been there, in our twenties, filled with love and passion, ready to pounce on anyone who even looks at our significant other the wrong way. And there’s a lot of flirting going on on facebook.

But we grow up. And when an author in her fifties does this, regarding a boyfriend who is in his fifties, it’s not the same thing…seriously…far from cute. And I’m not just singling out women…I would say the same thing if a man did it. There is a certain age, I believe, when you stop playing high school games, especially in public. And frankly, if you’ve reached the age of forty and you’re still having jealous rants in public, you have more problems than someone flirting with your significant other on a social network.

So please don’t, for the love of all, throw a jealous, hissy-fit tantrum on facebook. Punch a wall, kick a door, or do something in private. Because if you do post jealous rants on facebook and you’re close to being a member of AARP, I can assure you that people will be rolling their eyes and thinking, “She didn’t.”