Basic Adulthood, Part 2

The true adult thinks before she speaks. She understands that words have consequences, just like actions do. She keeps in mind that especially in cyberspace, they tend to be permanent.  She does not treat her or others' personal or online space as a bathroom stall or a psychiatrist's couch.  She determines for herself whether her words are necessary, truthful, and constructive, and she chooses them accordingly. She understands that self-expression is nice, but hardly all-important; thus she avoids the adolescent's fault of mistaking a lack of discretion for "authenticity." Most importantly, she understands that sometimes she need not speak at all.