Debate vs. Hate (An editorial of sorts)
For some, social media is a place to share pictures of a meal out, report what funny quip your 4-year old said today or ask for travel tips. Throw in a few vacation and wedding/engagement/baby pictures and we're all having fun!
For others, social media, namely Facebook and Twitter, have become venues to express political opinions on topics including same sex marriage, welfare, GMOs and more!
Admittedly, I will sometimes click on a shared story from the Huffington Post or other media. However, recent escalations of some of these political and social discussions have me questioning if I even want to participate in social media. There comes a point where the line is crossed from DEBATE to HATE.
In full disclosure, I typically lean more to the right. With that in mind, the rest of the post may seem odd, but my point isn't meant to be about the issues, but rather the way we present our stance on those issues. I question if we would behave the same way if it weren't for the veil of social media. Would we stand up and make these statements in this way at work, church, or even dinner out with friends? I also enjoy a good discussion. I have been known to correct misconceptions. (Cough cough - What do Ag Communicators do? Talk to corn? - cough, cough!) But I think I've hit my limit.
When statements on controversial issues escalate to attacks is when I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! (I had written personal attacks in that last statement but retracted it because these aren't personal. They are shrouded with the cover of social media. If they were personal, we would say them to someone's face and we often wouldn't even think of that. Instead we repost, like, comment, and here-here without thinking about who we might be hurting. ) We lose civility. We lose common sense as we are caught up in an issue.
Just this past week, a nice video of a news piece on two mom's gathering food for weekend meals and snacks for elementary school kids spiraled in to a political and social welfare debate in the comments section below the video on Facebook! It then shifted in to name calling and more hate. We seemed to have missed the point that these were good people doing a good thing!
My point - Social media users, be careful of where that line between debate and hate lies. Would you say it to your Grandma if she disagreed with you? Do you really feel THAT strongly or is it easy to click and jump on the bandwagon? Think before you click! (or retweet, etc.)
For others, social media, namely Facebook and Twitter, have become venues to express political opinions on topics including same sex marriage, welfare, GMOs and more!
Admittedly, I will sometimes click on a shared story from the Huffington Post or other media. However, recent escalations of some of these political and social discussions have me questioning if I even want to participate in social media. There comes a point where the line is crossed from DEBATE to HATE.
In full disclosure, I typically lean more to the right. With that in mind, the rest of the post may seem odd, but my point isn't meant to be about the issues, but rather the way we present our stance on those issues. I question if we would behave the same way if it weren't for the veil of social media. Would we stand up and make these statements in this way at work, church, or even dinner out with friends? I also enjoy a good discussion. I have been known to correct misconceptions. (Cough cough - What do Ag Communicators do? Talk to corn? - cough, cough!) But I think I've hit my limit.
When statements on controversial issues escalate to attacks is when I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! (I had written personal attacks in that last statement but retracted it because these aren't personal. They are shrouded with the cover of social media. If they were personal, we would say them to someone's face and we often wouldn't even think of that. Instead we repost, like, comment, and here-here without thinking about who we might be hurting. ) We lose civility. We lose common sense as we are caught up in an issue.
Just this past week, a nice video of a news piece on two mom's gathering food for weekend meals and snacks for elementary school kids spiraled in to a political and social welfare debate in the comments section below the video on Facebook! It then shifted in to name calling and more hate. We seemed to have missed the point that these were good people doing a good thing!
My point - Social media users, be careful of where that line between debate and hate lies. Would you say it to your Grandma if she disagreed with you? Do you really feel THAT strongly or is it easy to click and jump on the bandwagon? Think before you click! (or retweet, etc.)
posted by MJ at
12:28 PM
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