Have you ever had someone speak into your life about something particular you do or say, maybe a mannerism or gesture, then to find you could not get that voice out of your head?

Every time you did that certain action, you felt subconscious or doubtful of yourself. Well, while a few of you would simply ignore that voice, I know there are others, like myself, who have difficulty turning off the switch.

A few months ago, I met a fella who had a lot to say on social media. "Bob" critiqued our friends' Facebook posts, including my own; approved or rejected them; and gave the tsk-tsk and "what were they thinking?" comments. I agreed with some of his statements, though was guilty of a few. Who hasn't posted the random photo of a margarita or other beverage to signify they were officially on vacation mode? (Which basically is bragging to friends that, while they're at work still slaving away at their computer, you are unwinding at a white-sanded beach somewhere in the Gulf with that pink, frozen-something containing a tiny yellow umbrella.)

Well, obviously Bob has never posted such a photo. In fact, after taking a closer examination, I noticed Bob only posts about once a month. When he does, they are well thought out, five-week minimum in-advance scheduled posts. Cleverly, constructed, C+C Music Factory "things that make you go hmm" type of statements.

So then I'm thinking, "Man, am I really too liberal? Do I need to hone in my posts?"

So I do what any normal, paranoid person would do. I stalked myself on Facebook, and found one of the posts Bob criticized. "Just received letter in mail stating 'this previous union is no longer considered binding in the Catholic Church.' Well, hot diggity-dog the annulment is Done!"

OK, maybe not the classiest or most thought-provoking Facebook post of mine, but did it deserve criticism? I remember writing that post. The moment I received that letter, I felt as though I had conquered a triathlon and immediately wanted to share my victory.

Bob, however, explained that many people on Facebook just wouldn't get a post regarding an annulment of marriage. So, even as excited as I was that the grueling process was complete, that a life chapter was finally closed, maybe it was a bit too much information for the masses.

So if we can't talk about divorce and annulments on social media, what else shouldn't we talk about?

So it began. From that day forward, every time I went to post a small quip or thought, I would doubt myself and press the backspace button. Every day, I would think of something really cool to say (that's cool by 30-something-year-old standards), then rethink and press delete. I was nervous of Bob reading my post and critiquing. What if he doesn't like this one? What would he say about that?

So I became a daisy in the ground, watching as others partook in the sport of social media, fearful of my next move. While doing so, I discovered the other end of the spectrum: those that post every hour regarding mundane life details like "Hey honey, I picked up your prescription from the pharmacy today." She didn't specify what type of prescription she was picking up for her lucky husband, which allowed my imagination to go wild. Oh boy.

What happened to texting personal items like PDAs and TMIs of life? (That's "public display of affection" and "too much information," for those who have forgotten in this age of tell-all.) Maybe she needs a "Bob." Maybe she needs that voice in the back of her head to have her second guess herself before she presses 'share."

Now while I don't see the point of being on social media and only critiquing others if you are not going to participate, if you are not going to share your real life happenings, I also think Bob makes some great points on being socially aware of what you do post.

Social media posts are like those words you said so long ago, the ones you think of occasionally and cringe, the ones that if you could build a time machine you'd travel back and never say them at all.

Well, to end with a thought-provoking "things that make you go hmm" statement, I'll leave it up to Winston Churchill, who once said, "We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out (on Facebook.)"

Heather Kemper-Hussey of Lake Saint Louis is director of communications for a church in Dardenne Prairie. Opinion Shapers are chosen annually to write columns on topics of interest to them.