Social Media Resources

Social Media can be an excellent opportunity to connect and spark conversation. We encourage members of the Baylor community to foster the College's values in every interaction online, bringing elements of respect, integrity and excellence to the information shared and the comments that are made.

In addition to our values, we encourage members of our community to:

• Avoid engaging in any form of harassment, derogatory or inflammatory remarks about an individual’s race, age, disability, relation, national origin, physical attributes, sexual preference, political belief or health condition.
• Follow applicable federal requirements outlined by FERPA and HIPAA. Make sure never to disclose confidential patient Protected Health Information or comment about the care of any patient or participation of any research volunteer.

While you may not be able to prevent uncomfortable topics from coming up, Laurel Hyle, ombudsman director for Baylor College of Medicine, says there are strategies to help manage difficult discussions. If you choose to engage in a sensitive topic with someone, Hyle suggests the following phrases that allow you to respectfully disagree while not escalating the conflict:

• “I’ve never thought about it that way.”
• “That’s interesting; I don’t look at it that way.”
• “May I share with you my thoughts/how I think about that?”
• “I guess this is one of those topics where reasonable minds might differ.”
• “Do you think some people might interpret that as being/sounding…” (Discriminatory, exclusionary, angry, etc.)?
• “Does it concern you that this could lead to…” (Compromising certain rights, destabilizing relationships, etc.)?
• “I appreciate you sharing your perspective; I tend to look at that issue quite differently.”

Hyle shares how handle stressful situations and conflicts, as well as how to end discussions.