44 LAST WORD REVISITED ! freepik . com
The unsocial side of social media
By Rory Macnamara
“ Most of these platforms have youngsters keen to learn and it is sad when they see this kind of thing happening .”
It is strange that there are always those few who end up spoiling what is an excellent medium , by allowing finger to engage before brain !
I refer specifically to the business side of social media , which are created with good intentions to educate and inform , and then some smart alec posts an offensive comment which then ‘ empowers ’ a few others to jump in , and before one knows it the original intention of the medium has degenerated into a childish playground skirmish with no end in sight . Credit to those admins that keep a tight a control on the original purpose of the medium .
It is only a few that make it bad for others . Perhaps it is human nature but a very sad part of it . Hardly what one would call ‘ role models ’. Attacking individuals and bodies is unacceptable as one platform consistently does . Try that on LinkedIn and see what happens . Try that on Daily Maverick , where they no hesitation in booting one off for offensive remarks .
So , let us end on a positive note . Everyone has an opinion and has the right to express it . Do not confuse this with freedom of speech because that is used incorrectly as well . Before expressing it , think it through – let ’ s use the excellent platforms in the business world for the purpose for which they are designed . We can all learn from each other , as was shown in the recent ‘ Food for Thought ’ online platform , where views were expressed and challenged and concluded . Sadly , an individual thoughtless comment allowed the good achieved to degenerate into a silly remark , totally out of context . Credit to the person who noted that and called the individual out .
Let us raise the social media content bar for the good of all . PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline May 2021 Volume 27 I Number 3