"Social Media Is Not A Private Conversation"

Social media has, like many things, a positive and a negative side to it.

The positive?

Having the ability to keep in touch with friends and family who you may not see or hear from very often any other way.

Having the ability to keep up on local, area and world happenings.

Having the ability to boost a business or sell those suddenly unneeded items in your closets.

All of that sounds pretty good, right?

Well, it's all good until it isn't. And there are social media outlets out there who are a perfect example of why it definitely needs an overhaul.

One outlet in particular is Facebook. With this media giant one is able to not only have a page for themselves, but also a page for their business or an "extra" to do their part to contribute to their community, society, etc. etc.

But what if that contribution is negative? What if that contribution is full of hate, bullying and worse. Yes, I said worse.

One of those pages initiated in the Oklahoma Panhandle came to my attention when I noticed not only was it not contributing anything positive, but it seemed to always be on the attack. And no one appears to be safe from the bullseye administrators put on them.

If you disagree with them - you are blocked and most generally then become the target of name calling, and even threats.

In just the past few weeks there have been posts about community members which, in my opinion are paramount to libel. Comments that could ruin someone's reputation, their businesses,  and possibly even cause them to lose their jobs.

And all said with no factual information to back it up. Yet when some provide facts that the comments are not true - they are attacked, ignored, etc.

Those who try to point out what they are doing are immediately attacked. And even though there are many who are choosing to remain silent and not comment, many of the ones who are commenting remind me of the lynch mobs of the old west. Guilty until proven innocent seems to be the theme of the day and then, according to many on the site - you are still guilty regardless of what the evidence shows.

I have received phone calls and messages from people who think the site should be shut down. Messages expressing frustration for what the site is representing and doing.

It is ironic that some of those who start the initial conversations then turn around and in the words of fictional character Steve Urkel from Family Matters, "Did I do that?" They feign innocence as if that is not exactly what they intended in the first place.

I've been told many have filed complaints with Facebook regarding the page, but nothing has been done as yet. They are still operating in true hateful form.

I can only guess, but I wonder if those in charge have been hurt so badly they feel the need to hurt anyone and everyone who comes in their path. When you would think it would be the opposite - if you have experienced that kind of hurt, it seems to me you would lean more towards not wanting someone else to experience what you, yourself have gone  through.

No one should deliberately cause pain to someone else just for the "fun of it". Or say things because they have "freedom of speech". As I have pointed out before, freedom of speech comes with a great deal of responsibility - men and women have sacrificed their very lives so the rest of us could have that right among others. We owe them the respect to treat those responsibilities with the greatest of care. The answer of "I can say and do what I want" does not fly.

And another irony? I don't have to mention the name of their site or their individual names and they already know what site I am referring to.  That tells you a lot right there.

Bullying is an every day event for them. So that, too, makes me wonder - were they bullied when they were children or were they among the bullies who constantly terrorized others? Either way, the bullying they are perpetuating today is not okay.

Social media is just that - social and media. It is not like you are having a private conversation with a friend or family member. You are putting your words out there for everyone to see. And guess what? It never really goes away. So, the comment, "it's my site, I can post what I want" isn't a very safe comment in and of itself.

If there is any truth behind what they spew and some of the accusations are spot on - why aren't they spending their time going to authorities rather than spreading hate on a social media site? Seems to me they aren't doing anything to help stop an alleged crime from happening. Is it because they know what they are saying isn't true? Are they making stuff up? Are they just spreading a rumor they heard?

Managing a social media site is a lot of responsibility. Those in charge should be using care to make sure libelous comments and hateful comments are not being tolerated.

If they aren't responsible enough to handle that, then perhaps they should find another hobby. If they don't, it is very possible they may find themselves at the wrong end of a lawsuit.

This world is hard enough on a good day. We all should be working to make it better - not harder. And that is not going to be accomplished by being a part of something like this.

Even just being a member is kind of like showing your support for what is happening. One of the best ways to show them what they are doing is wrong is to not give them the audience and attention they seem to need. Don't wait to be blocked - exit stage left.

No, everything isn't always sunshine and roses, but we should all do our part to make this world better.