{"id":22680,"date":"2019-06-24T22:07:02","date_gmt":"2019-06-25T02:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=22680"},"modified":"2019-06-28T07:45:32","modified_gmt":"2019-06-28T11:45:32","slug":"monday-morning-moment-the-perils-of-social-media-that-post-might-not-have-been-meant-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=22680","title":{"rendered":"Monday Morning Moment – the Perils of Social Media – That Post Might Not Have Been Meant For You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Needpix, Geralt, Pixabay<\/a><\/p>\n

Some years ago, I got tapped for the communications strategist role for a work team that was near and dear to my heart. It was a joy for me to wave the banner for our work – to raise awareness, inform and educate via the various social media outlets. Part of the job was following the social media accounts of folks also engaged in similar work, learning from and engaging with them.<\/p>\n

It was where my love-hate relationship with social media began. Sifting through hundreds of posts and scrolling through silly to discover the substantive – time-consuming for sure. Mind-numbing at times. It’s why friends and colleagues curtail their Twitter and Facebook habits. For me, it’s been more gain than loss in learning from those I follow.<\/p>\n

In particular, from those I follow that I wouldn’t know otherwise.<\/p>\n

Social media allows us a window into the lives of people we are only barely acquainted with.<\/p>\n

Also, we have this odd access to people who are celebrities in their fields of expertise – be they actors, scientists, politicians, educators, artists, or thought leaders of some sort or other.<\/p>\n

We must be wary of making social media more personal than it actually is. Social media by definition presumes that it is actually social – between amicable and obliging people. Community is also presumed. Communication, too.<\/p>\n

We must be cautious about entering into dialog, even with just a like button…because, in fact, that tweet or Facebook status could have been meant for a rather different audience.<\/p>\n

That post frankly might not have been meant for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the flip side, the social silence that follows one of your own posts might also not have been personal either. It is what it is.<\/p>\n

Recently, I began following author John Pavlovitz<\/a> on Twitter. He popped up as author of an article<\/a> and, intrigued, I shared<\/a> it:\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: ChurchPlant<\/a><\/p>\n

Then it turns out he is an wildly active tweeter, and my Twitter page has grown full of his take on both our country’s political and religious failings. I try not to engage, but today, it felt personal so I did…my mistake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Twitter, John Pavlovitz<\/a><\/p>\n

If you’re Southern Baptist, or a white, middle class, heterosexual (definitely male) evangelical…this tweet might have been “meant” for you. I realized later in the day, it wasn’t meant for me. I replied, and got smacked down by another follower of Mr. Pavlovitz. Probably deserved since I actually thought I could enter the conversation…but it wasn’t about me.<\/p>\n

You see…it wasn’t actually an open conversation.<\/p>\n

That’s an important distinction in successfully maneuvering social media. Not all conversations are open to everyone. I would love to be in some of the dialogs going on in various cyber-locations. The problem is although it feels like we’re invited, it isn’t the case.<\/p>\n

I’m slowly learning that.<\/p>\n

However, remaining silent is not the answer either. Conversations are needed with places at the table for as diverse a community of people as possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It happens occasionally on social media and I’m thankful for what I learn in the gracious company of people who don’t necessarily agree with me, or I with them…but who consider a differing view and who practice reasoned dialog with others.<\/p>\n

[Update: I did decide to “unfollow” the gentleman above. Increasing my understanding of how others think can come from others.]<\/p>\n

What are your thoughts on this?<\/p>\n

A quote by actor Denzel Washington<\/a> bears repeating here (posted in last week’s Friday Faves<\/a>). Washington won the American Film Institute\u2019s Lifetime Achievement award<\/a> last week. His acceptance speech was the stuff of community and caring and healing…across the lines that too often divide us:<\/p>\n