Comments have been flying around online about the most recent Twitter upset: David George-Cosh (National Post reporter) vs. April Dunford (PR consultant). If you’ve not yet heard what all the little birdies are talking about, here’s the shortened play-by-play (or tweet-by-tweet):

- April: When the media calls you, you jump, OK!?” Why, when you called me and I’m not selling? Newspapers will get what they deserve.”
- David @ April (who is offended by her tweet, thinking she’s talking about him): WTF. I called you for comment two days ago. What did you expect when you called me back? Don’t post that S&^t online.”

The back and forth continues as you’d expect it would. David is mad at April for cursing him publicly; April defends herself by saying she wasn’t talking about him. Tweeters far as the UK have been commenting on the back and forth. Did April handle herself well? Did David cross the line? Who’s to blame? Even The National Post publicly posted an apology about this on their website earlier today.

I’m overly idealistic at times and have been accused of naivety, but I have to say it anyway: if neither of these participants publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with the other, whether personal or about the profession to which the other belongs, all this drama (read headache) could have been avoided.

Anyone who works in or with media knows that this is a fast paced, deadline driven industry that can get emotional at times. That’s the reality of our profession. If we start commenting on every frustration we experience throughout the day (for the world to see) relationships and reputations, both personal and professional, are put at risk.

Which brings us back to the golden rule that my mother taught me at a young age (referencing Bambi every time she did): “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nuthin’ at all.” Blame her for my naivety.