Social Networking
is a fantastic opportunity for people to meet and socialize in a fashion never
dreamt of in the past. It allows a
revolutionary method for a leader to interact and communicate with the
public. It gives us all an opportunity
to share our thoughts, opinions, feelings, hopes, dreams, activities, or any
manner of intimate or public expression!
It extends our circle of influence and ability to exchange ideas in a
fashion limited only by our imagination.
We have the opportunity to conduct a personal "chat" with
personalities we may never have been able to reach through previous methods of
communication. However, like every creation for the good and advancement of
mankind it has the capacity for abuse.
I'm certain there are few of us who have not experienced the
intrusiveness of 'spam', 'identity theft', or 'malicious software'. Creative entrepreneurs have made fortunes
protecting us from what, in some cases, may be their own creations. The
mainstream media reports frequent occurrences of electronic
"bullying" of youth, with tragic results, when hateful remarks lead
innocent young people to avail themselves of permanent solutions to temporary
problems. There are people who take
pleasure or amusement in circulating electronic deceptions, preying on our
innocence and trust, while rejoicing in their deceptions. There are and I suppose there always will be
those who have a malevolent and malicious nature; don't care who they may
injure; believe they are serving a greater good which transcends lesser harm;
or simply don't understand the consequences their actions.
Hecklers, detractors, baiters, instigators, and provokers go
with the territory in politics. One of
the drawbacks of making public decisions is that "you cannot please
everyone”. The electronic media, like
hundreds of pounds of steel surrounding automobile drivers, grants the
opportunity for isolation and anonymity permitting expression of our darker
side embodied in stalkers, predators, and deviants. They are not only allowed to flourish but to
carry out their nefarious purposes with impunity by creating false personas to
mislead, disparage and degrade.
Fortunately, Facebook has provided a means of blocking the attacks of
these pernicious character types.
Unfortunately it only removes them from our sight and doesn't prevent
them from carrying out their mud-slinging and smear campaigns 'behind our
backs'. I'm grateful that I can 'block'
these predatory stalkers so I, at least, do not have to continuously witness
their hatefulness and malicious provoking and goading – not to mention the fact that it
denies them the gratification of their odious intent with the ability to
ignore.
Happy Social Networking!
J
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