Mom's adages should have prepared us all for the adult world, but our news pages are filled with examples of those who just weren't listening. We had another recent example of someone who should have been tugged by the ear because they apparently weren't using them for listening.

Mom at some point communicated that it's not what you say, but how you say it. She also likely said that you shouldn't say anything that you wouldn't want posted on a billboard with your picture.

Well, communicating on Facebook too often runs afoul of both those bon mots. Volunteer Swansea firefighter Kody Koudelka recently found himself in the middle of a squabble over his foul-mouthed post criticizing the village. Village leaders discussed it once and said they plan to revisit it Monday.

Some in the village want him disciplined. Some defended Koudelka's right to have an opinion and make it on his own time. One said Koudelka's idea got lost in the crude language.

Someone was listening to mom.

As Mayor Jim Rauckman unfortunately found out this week when his home burned, we depend upon firefighters and other emergency responders to risk their lives when tragedy strikes ours. Maybe there are more important things to occupy village leaders' time and Koudelka's time and than an uncouth Facebook posting.