Make or break - social media #28days Day21

Due to ill health, I unfortunately missed a week of #28 Days:(  My last post was about how the media broke my heart and what I learnt from the experience. Jen English recommended this article to me
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/magazine/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine-saccos-life.html?referrer=&_r=0and it really got me thinking and reflecting on the human race and that we can learn from incidents such as these, and start developing a way to address these issues in the classroom.

Several issues caught my attention. You never know if something will go viral and thus any controversial statements should only be delivered if you are aware what the consequences may be and feel that you are able to deal with these consequences. It reminded me once more that media relying on sensationalism, have very little regard for a person. A tweet may be made in jest, taken out of context or be as a result of a bad day and in a moment your life is no longer your own. An audience of people who do not know you wishing and waiting for your demise.

Our situation was by no means as harsh or life altering as Justine Sacco's, but I certainly learnt that my best interests are not close to the hearts of strangers. Once posted on Social Media, opening with a question and leaving the public to comment, was a sure way to get a response. And it made me realise that we say we are kind, but this proved the contrary.

I am absolutely for social media, if exercised with kindness and respect. Unfortunately through the ages, as a human race, we often lack kindness. Love is kind, so I am afraid that the main missing ingredient in our lives is love. I am not talking romantic love, I am talking the kind of love where we empathise, we look to help people meet needs and when people make mistakes we don't attack it like vultures, but rather suggest why we are in disagreement and show them a loving alternative. Yes, it probably wasn't the best tweet from Justine, but who of us can say we have not said things we regret. It is when it is capitalised upon and we feel part of a group mentality to publicly humiliate another person that I feel saddened. It is a good opportunity to help me keep a check on myself, that I do not fall into the trap of degrading another human being.

It is atimely reminder that my role as a teacher is to instil in my students a deeper understanding of social media, both in being mindful about what they post but also how to interact with others and to act with kindness, love and respect. And finally, something I subscribe to - do not get involved in arguments on social media. There are some interesting topics that come through my newsfeed and people immediately jumping in until it becomes a bitter mess. I don't take the bait. I refuse to enter into a duel with a person (or person's) I do not know. We are entitled to our opinion, we all have them, but we need to share them with love and know when to walk away.