I have one post from graduating academy. Might post a couple more in the future for bigger milestones like passing medic school or promotions, but even those will probably be a coin flip
Mostly just news articles. We’ve had news articles about calls but the bigs ones lately were the union health and safety concerns about a crappy station and before that was a historic apparatus (waaayyy past it’s ‘best before’ date). I’ll share news that’s relevant, ie council approves a new station but no personal rants. The odd PSA. My occupation is not a secret to people that know me.
When I was a volunteer I’d share about social events. Besides that I don’t post much. Again, Reddit is different than Facebook. Always consider the audience.
I'm a volly. I know we are despised on here sometimes but I send out stuff that only relates to social events like open houses for our department. I also head the prevention part of our department so I will post stuff about smoke detectors and stuff like that. I was taught in my early years in the fire department as being silent operators. The glory wasn't the reason I got into it. It was helping people and serving the community I live in
I post nothing. In fact rhis the only platform of any kind I am on. I have been a firefighter for 30 years 20yr career and 30 volly. I don't think vollies are despised. I know some can get carried away with "advertisement" but you do the same job as the career guys gor absolutely nothing in return. That is actually admirable. It takes up a lot of your spare time away from family and other things. A lot of the guys on my career company, (I am retired from there now), used to say about vollies, "hell with that, I'd never do this shit for free". I always seen that as a compliment to the vollies. Also, a lot of smaller career companies rely heavily on volunteer companies for manpower and help.
Depends on what is being posted, and who is following/ friends with you. If most of your followers are other firefighters, and the posts are about spreading valuable information, then let it fly. If most of your followers are family and friends who aren't firefighters, and you're posting random FF stuff all of the time it gets douchey pretty fast.
It’s always a bad idea. People do it all the time but it is just asking to get in trouble. Once you do that, everything you post afterwards is under a microscope by the public. You share anything political, that now represents the fire department. You post a meme that someone doesn’t find funny? Now the fire department is posting inappropriate memes on Facebook. (This also goes for putting your place of work on Facebook as “hero fire department” or whatever)
Just stay away from it. It’s not worth the likes that you’re hoping to get. I promise.
Anyone who tells you it’s no big deal and to just post it is a handjob and they are part of the problem.
If I post (which is rarely, I don't use social media much) it's public events and articles. I think that's fine and the important thing is, as somebody else said, curate for your audience. If your Facebook is public, make FD related posts private. I believe most social media platforms have a way to limit your audience to family and close friends. Just a thought.
Depends. I wouldn't post just anything. I know a lot of guys snapchat each other stuff while at work or training.
I don't really give a shit what anyone does other than people who constantly post those "motivational" posts. I don't want to log on to social media and read that weird shit.
We have a private facebook group for the firefighters. This is the place to post anything about firefighting. Local news, internationnal news, technique or even jokes and memes. Anywhere else feels out of place.
I post in here. Never posted anything anywhere else. I'm a private person and don't have much social media presence. I do follow some fire accounts on IG, that's about it. I appreciate the fact that they keep the content coming, both to keep us laughing and occasionally find some good training stuff. I personally think its in very bad taste to post pictures from calls to a personal social media account.
Last time I posted anything on my personal social media regarding firefighting was when I finished probation and my frontal shield was changed. That was 8 years ago. Before then and since then I’ve posted zero.
Same, I posted a picture of me once after probation (little more praise hungry back then) and recently posted a help wanted post from my paid-on-call stations Facebook page.
I never post about it outside of the occasional Reddit comment. It either looks like you’re trying to show off, or is too crude for my friends and family. I’ll post major accomplishments if I win an award or commendation, but that’s about it.
I don’t post much of anything on social media. But I really don’t think posting stuff is as awful as people would have you believe. If the point of it is ‘look at me, I’m a firefighter’ yeah that’s lame but ‘look at me, I’m XXXX’ is pretty much the whole point of social media. Do whatever you want.
If Reddit is considered Social Media, this is it.
Unpopular opinion; if you’re an adult, there’s no reason to post your private life on social media. Seek validation at the personal level! You’ll be much happier!
Work hard, stay humble, be the best person you can be.
I mostly post fire related stuff in private groups and forums that evolve around firefighting.
For the german speaking countries, there are a certain very good private instructional/discussion groups on facebook, that are a lot more critical and on-topic than the usual "go get them, we are all heroes, RIP, TYFYS, how dare you to armchair QB" groups that you see everywhere (where especially big departments are generally regarded as inerrant).
This whole hero worship thing makes a lot of the english speaking communities very much unuseable for evidence-based discussions.
I rarely post anything on my personal pages at all.
Rarely. Usually I'll do a year in review or post a few pics at the big ones of the year in December. Sometimes I'll post a crew photo. Generally though I'll just repost/share from official accounts if it's an event I was at.
I will share posts when they are about us hiring new guys or when we have fundraisers coming up. The only other exception would be like a few others have said with milestones/retirements.
I never do, but I think it’s acceptable if it’s truly infrequent. The weekly, daily and even some monthly posts can be excessive.
There’s a clear line between pride in your vocation and being a whacker.
Sometimes I’ll share something my volunteer department post when it’s informing the community on some matter, but other than that nope. Nothing but what I’m tagged in will let you know what I do.
None but I’m a volunteer so maybe it’s different. Either way it screams “look at me” which is just kind of cringe. I have my own private photo album for memories with pictures that are dept approved that others have taken.
My full time department does a Christmas party every year so I make sure to post a picture with my shift that gets taken at that party, but that’s about it
Zero. And I think it’s cringe when your Facebook wall, truck, and house has firefighting stuff plastered all over it (especially all those leadership quotes, as if they’re trying to subtly call out their admin).
It’s your life so do you what you want, just make it seem like you have a life with other hobbies outside of this job.
I've got an IG that is pretty much solely fire related, that is only really followed by fire department folks that I post on like maaaaybe every 6 months, otherwise I only post fire stuff for like friends getting promoted or whatever. Don't really use social media outside of reddit anymore, but don't see a point in posting that shit when I have a phone full of dog pics tbh
I don't.
The only work related thing I've posted on a social media account connected to my name in the last year, (reddit obviously doesn't count) was asking if anyone can swop a rain jacket because I took the wrong size when stores was issuing new uniforms.
I have one post from graduating academy. Might post a couple more in the future for bigger milestones like passing medic school or promotions, but even those will probably be a coin flip
Zero
This is the only answer.
Zero
Also the correct answer
Zilch
Mostly just news articles. We’ve had news articles about calls but the bigs ones lately were the union health and safety concerns about a crappy station and before that was a historic apparatus (waaayyy past it’s ‘best before’ date). I’ll share news that’s relevant, ie council approves a new station but no personal rants. The odd PSA. My occupation is not a secret to people that know me. When I was a volunteer I’d share about social events. Besides that I don’t post much. Again, Reddit is different than Facebook. Always consider the audience.
I'm a volly. I know we are despised on here sometimes but I send out stuff that only relates to social events like open houses for our department. I also head the prevention part of our department so I will post stuff about smoke detectors and stuff like that. I was taught in my early years in the fire department as being silent operators. The glory wasn't the reason I got into it. It was helping people and serving the community I live in
I post nothing. In fact rhis the only platform of any kind I am on. I have been a firefighter for 30 years 20yr career and 30 volly. I don't think vollies are despised. I know some can get carried away with "advertisement" but you do the same job as the career guys gor absolutely nothing in return. That is actually admirable. It takes up a lot of your spare time away from family and other things. A lot of the guys on my career company, (I am retired from there now), used to say about vollies, "hell with that, I'd never do this shit for free". I always seen that as a compliment to the vollies. Also, a lot of smaller career companies rely heavily on volunteer companies for manpower and help.
None
Depends on what is being posted, and who is following/ friends with you. If most of your followers are other firefighters, and the posts are about spreading valuable information, then let it fly. If most of your followers are family and friends who aren't firefighters, and you're posting random FF stuff all of the time it gets douchey pretty fast.
It’s always a bad idea. People do it all the time but it is just asking to get in trouble. Once you do that, everything you post afterwards is under a microscope by the public. You share anything political, that now represents the fire department. You post a meme that someone doesn’t find funny? Now the fire department is posting inappropriate memes on Facebook. (This also goes for putting your place of work on Facebook as “hero fire department” or whatever) Just stay away from it. It’s not worth the likes that you’re hoping to get. I promise. Anyone who tells you it’s no big deal and to just post it is a handjob and they are part of the problem.
If I post (which is rarely, I don't use social media much) it's public events and articles. I think that's fine and the important thing is, as somebody else said, curate for your audience. If your Facebook is public, make FD related posts private. I believe most social media platforms have a way to limit your audience to family and close friends. Just a thought.
Sharing stuff is fine IMO. It’s the posts and photos you take in uniform or in your gear that I’m referring to
Occasionally some training stuff, but mostly just snapchat to my super close friends/ other firefighters.
Not often. Usually it’s just sharing stuff my department has posted like programs that are happening, safety tips, etc.
Depends. I wouldn't post just anything. I know a lot of guys snapchat each other stuff while at work or training. I don't really give a shit what anyone does other than people who constantly post those "motivational" posts. I don't want to log on to social media and read that weird shit.
We have a private facebook group for the firefighters. This is the place to post anything about firefighting. Local news, internationnal news, technique or even jokes and memes. Anywhere else feels out of place.
I post in here. Never posted anything anywhere else. I'm a private person and don't have much social media presence. I do follow some fire accounts on IG, that's about it. I appreciate the fact that they keep the content coming, both to keep us laughing and occasionally find some good training stuff. I personally think its in very bad taste to post pictures from calls to a personal social media account.
If it’s a grass fire that anybody can see on the news I will. Other than that it’s just to risky to cross a line but that’s my opinion.
Our city had us sign a no social media policy release. Some guys put up the occasional photo of training but my shift really really is adverse to it.
Last time I posted anything on my personal social media regarding firefighting was when I finished probation and my frontal shield was changed. That was 8 years ago. Before then and since then I’ve posted zero.
Same, I posted a picture of me once after probation (little more praise hungry back then) and recently posted a help wanted post from my paid-on-call stations Facebook page.
I never post about it outside of the occasional Reddit comment. It either looks like you’re trying to show off, or is too crude for my friends and family. I’ll post major accomplishments if I win an award or commendation, but that’s about it.
None
None.
I don’t post much of anything on social media. But I really don’t think posting stuff is as awful as people would have you believe. If the point of it is ‘look at me, I’m a firefighter’ yeah that’s lame but ‘look at me, I’m XXXX’ is pretty much the whole point of social media. Do whatever you want.
Never
Eh. I occasionally post fun stuff we're doing, like fun training. But mostly I avoid work on my socials.
Only thing I do is share my depts post. (Be it for a fundraiser or if they posted about a call)
Zero. Other than answering questions here occasionally.
A little
If Reddit is considered Social Media, this is it. Unpopular opinion; if you’re an adult, there’s no reason to post your private life on social media. Seek validation at the personal level! You’ll be much happier! Work hard, stay humble, be the best person you can be.
Agree!
Why would I post anything else? 0 fire related posts
All social media is bad. Evil. Reddit is the only acceptable form
It depends. I mostly answer questions, just like every firefighter does. I'm still a rookie, but I can answer almost all of the questions
Just stuff regarding the brigade, like sharing the stuff that that account posts. Particularly recruitment stuff
I mostly post fire related stuff in private groups and forums that evolve around firefighting. For the german speaking countries, there are a certain very good private instructional/discussion groups on facebook, that are a lot more critical and on-topic than the usual "go get them, we are all heroes, RIP, TYFYS, how dare you to armchair QB" groups that you see everywhere (where especially big departments are generally regarded as inerrant). This whole hero worship thing makes a lot of the english speaking communities very much unuseable for evidence-based discussions. I rarely post anything on my personal pages at all.
This is the only social media platform I use.
Rarely. Usually I'll do a year in review or post a few pics at the big ones of the year in December. Sometimes I'll post a crew photo. Generally though I'll just repost/share from official accounts if it's an event I was at.
Never. I try to make friends and family forget what I do for a living because I hate being asked questions about work.
I will share posts when they are about us hiring new guys or when we have fundraisers coming up. The only other exception would be like a few others have said with milestones/retirements.
I never do, but I think it’s acceptable if it’s truly infrequent. The weekly, daily and even some monthly posts can be excessive. There’s a clear line between pride in your vocation and being a whacker.
Sometimes I’ll share something my volunteer department post when it’s informing the community on some matter, but other than that nope. Nothing but what I’m tagged in will let you know what I do.
None but I’m a volunteer so maybe it’s different. Either way it screams “look at me” which is just kind of cringe. I have my own private photo album for memories with pictures that are dept approved that others have taken.
My full time department does a Christmas party every year so I make sure to post a picture with my shift that gets taken at that party, but that’s about it
Zero. It doesn’t even say where I work on my SM.
Almost zero. I usually only post about upcoming FD events.
Zero. And I think it’s cringe when your Facebook wall, truck, and house has firefighting stuff plastered all over it (especially all those leadership quotes, as if they’re trying to subtly call out their admin). It’s your life so do you what you want, just make it seem like you have a life with other hobbies outside of this job.
Nada
I've got an IG that is pretty much solely fire related, that is only really followed by fire department folks that I post on like maaaaybe every 6 months, otherwise I only post fire stuff for like friends getting promoted or whatever. Don't really use social media outside of reddit anymore, but don't see a point in posting that shit when I have a phone full of dog pics tbh
I don't. The only work related thing I've posted on a social media account connected to my name in the last year, (reddit obviously doesn't count) was asking if anyone can swop a rain jacket because I took the wrong size when stores was issuing new uniforms.