A friend of mine asked me yesterday why I seem to be absent from social media lately. Her question had a profound affect on me. I was deeply moved by the realization that she noticed - the confirmation that yes, people do truly notice each other on social media and that we have an effect on each other. This is why I am writing this post.
Everything we choose to say on social media has an effect. Every, single, thing. Every statement we make or post we share WILL positively or negatively affect our friends. I have not been on lately because I simply cannot handle the negativity.
Let me be clear - I have no issue with people having different viewpoints - that excites, stimulates and motivates me. My issue is with the way we are expressing these viewpoints. This is the difference between debate and attack. Debate is a presentation of fact with a perspective about why it is important to me - it is about my belief and presenting rationale for that belief. Attack is just that - attack on another viewpoint - often without fact. Debate is respectful - Attack is not.
Here is the irony, October was Bullying Prevention month and we had Bullying Awareness week in November. How can we preach to kids about the importance of kindness and respect and then go on the attack in the world of social media? The kids are on there you know - they see our behaviour and they model it. Are we being who we want them to see and be?
Do you want to feel sick to your stomach? Go on Rachel Notley's Facebook page and see what people are saying. Again, I don't care if you are a Notley fan or not - she has the courage to put herself on the line to serve this province and she is being attacked - every, single, second of the day. What if she was your mother, sister, daughter or friend?
I embrace freedom of speech and our individual rights to have and share different perspectives. My simple wish is that we do not take that freedom and right lightly. Before you post or comment, please, if for nobody else but our children, think about how you can go on the debate instead of the attack and have the courage to hold each other accountable. We are all better than this.
