Know the Code

With the introduction of social media into pop culture, the old Vegas motto of, “what happens here, stays here,” is under attack. A recent post talked about what I called digital documentation, which I define as the ability of digital technology, to document any event easily and regularly due to its convenience. This is a great example it doing just that and the consequences of such. When you are drunk in Vegas your judgment and inhibitions are compromised, which will lead to making poor decisions and then an even poorer decision to post about you or someone else. After a few years, there is a certain unspoken understand of social media etiquette, but some people still need to be reminded. So the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority though their website VisitLasVegas.com has launched a campaign “Know the Code.” The code is as follows.

"I PROMISE TO FOLLOW THE CODE OF LAS VEGAS BY NOT TWEETING, TAGGING, POSTING, TELLING, WHISPERING, EMOTING, DEFINING, DRAWING UP, WRITING ABOUT OR IN ANY WAY REVEALING THE ALL-POWERFUL WHAT HAPPENS HERE, STAYS HERE MOMENT OF ME OR ANYONE ELSE IN MY PARTY TO OTHERS NOT ON SAID TRIP DURING OR AT ANY TIME AFTER SAID TRIP'S DURATION – I.E.: THE MOMENT BEING THE PART OR PARTS OF THE TRIP THAT SHOULD STAY IN LAS VEGAS. THE OTHER PARTS ARE FINE ... SO SAYETH THIS PERSON.

This is an example of how the tool of digital media can be used for good or for evil. In the early days of social media there was a lot that new social media users had to learn about posting content about them online. Not only is that content visible to your friends, but employers, present and future, your family, and maybe even law enforcement. Posting inappropriate material for whatever reason now can create serious repercussions personally and professionally. This is due to the fact that social networking has caught fire and now even more people are now online communicating. The problem for Vegas is some are doing it too much communicating putting at risk the motto of Sin City. The campaign even encourages people to call those out that have shared something on social media that others wished them not to. They call it your duty, practically obligating you to do so.

While I understand the mentality of where they are coming from with the tradition of Las Vegas being threatened by this type of digital behavior, it’s also really quite simple at the same time, if you do not want others to be talking about something you did, then don’t do it.