DEAR HARRIETTE: Recently I was sub-tweeted -- someone tweeted something negative about me on Twitter, but did not tweet at me directly -- by several of my acquaintances. I took the time to call them out on it and respond to the rude things they were saying, for example, calling me a disgrace to my race. Should I have pretended I didn't see what they were saying, or was I right to defend myself? -- Tweet Snubbed, New York City
DEAR TWEET SNUBBED: In the world of social media, so much information is swirling about that it can be hard to keep track of it. If someone badmouths you, you absolutely have the right to speak up for yourself, whether the insult came directly or via sub-tweet.
That said, you have to weigh when it's best to stand up for yourself and when it might be better to say nothing or say it in person. Make your decision on a case-by-case basis. If something is flagrantly off base, you can also contact the social media provider to ask for the comment to be removed from their site.