Nasty Posters
Social media is a unique phenomenon, and as I’ve pointed out before, quite poorly named—because there’s often nothing “social” about so-called social media.
And I fully understand that if you are an elected official, a candidate for public office, or someone in the media…you’re a target for comments. Much of it is juvenile, of course…akin to “you’re ugly and your mother dresses you funny.”
Some of it is far nastier, of course…typically by fake people, or real people using fake names…that have nothing to do with the issue being discussed or public policy in general, but instead stuff that preschoolers outgrew before they left the playground sandbox.
I don’t really care myself; if it’s constructive commentary, fine…we all could pay attention to that sort of thing. And I have not been the target of anything, but I’ve seen what some post about others in the public arena.
I’m trying to figure out just how emotionally stunted you have to be to post something about a candidate or an elected official that is stupid and mean at the same time. What benefit does the person posting get from thumbing out some vile language as they stare at a screen in a darkened room? “There, I sure showed them,” the person might say…presuming the target even saw the post, or cared.
This is why we can’t have civil discourse about issues, because it quickly devolves into name calling and caricatures. And again…far too often…anonymously.
I have respect for those who pose actual questions—often with exasperation about the lack of attention to what the public wants—and use what appears to be their real name and identity.
But for the rest…if the best you can do to feel good about yourself is to post crude things about others…how sad your life must be.
