Social Communication: “I Love Twitter, I Hate Twitter”

It’s all about sharing & social communication. Right? Or, is it a mud wrestling match without winners?

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION:

I Love Twitter, I Hate Twitter

By D. S. Mitchell

Social Communication

I love Twitter. I hate Twitter. Love Twitter. Hate Twi….I know. If I sound a bit confused in my base emotions surrounding this global social sparring arena, I am.

Bad Relationships

My relationship with the Twitter platform reminds me of a couple bad relationships I’ve had in my life. I hate you, I love you, I apparently, “love to hate you”.  When things are going great, heaven couldn’t be closer. However, when going sour, I would rather be at the collision of two planets.

Twitter Effects

I am sure social communication in the 21st century effects many of us the same way. There is something to be said about raging high adrenaline brought about by a nasty Tweet from Twitter, however it is usually like placing a pile of important documents on a table and turning on a fan.  I forgot who said that, but I think it is applicable.

The Caring

To all the clear thinking, intelligent, brilliant folks that hope for a more tolerant and inclusive world, that I have met “thru” Twitter I am so grateful for our friendship. I love tossing tweets back and forth with you, and I love you all. There are so many caring and committed people wanting to do everything they can do, to advance the Progressive agenda.

Spread of Belief

Using social media, using a variety of social platforms as well as Twitter to spread their heartfelt beliefs is the future of Progressivism. It is amazing how the Resistance formed within hours of Trump’s election and it has been primarily fueled by social media. Seventy per cent of us know that there is a better way for government to relate to its citizens than the current administration. Our goal is to use social communication to create a better life for the citizens of our country and the world.

Russian Trolls

The ‘I hate’ side of me, comes out when somebody in the audience decides to suddenly join in by launching a vile attack.  Why would someone choose to do that?  Hmmm. Good question.

Other Sources

Not all vicious attacks come from paid Russian trolls, I have decided. Many such Twitter ambushes are led by probably semi-normal human beings. The first thought is that the assailant is a natural-born bully. But that explanation, of course, does not cover the majority of cursing Grand Dads.

So What Is It?

Is it because the offender didn’t get any nookie last night, or did Mom yell at him, was he passed over for a promotion, did he have a fender bender, did his wife just leave him, or has he, or in some cases, she been drinking the orange Kool Aid?

Hard To Know

Many times it’s hard to know. I mean seriously, how can I tell? Leaving me often wondering what my best response should be. Each condition would demand a different response if I were in the same room and knew the underlying motives it wouldn’t be a media experience, it would be a one to one social experience.

The Words We Speak

Who, the Hell knows?  Are the angry emotions propelling those rapid little finger hits on the phone keys  subverting the medium itself. Or, is it the deep intent of the medium creators, to stimulate backroom brawls.   The very fact that I can’t see you, so you can’t see me, is powerful spinach for the online Popeye’s. So, you or I will say something disgusting and revolting because there are no consequences for our actions.

Our Excuses

Maybe it’s just a response to our over regulated world that makes up yell at each other on Twitter. Whatever excuse we come up with for ourselves that excuse makes no sense if you are a person with a moral compass.  Each of us are the words we speak, our words are our legacy. That sounds good, but how can we live by that?

Eye To Eye

It’s easier to be thoughtless and insulting, when an individual doesn’t have to look an opponent in the eye. I can tell by the tone of the tweets when things begin to go off the rails. Many of the folks in the cyber world are capitalizing every word in their response to me.  I know at that moment someone, somewhere, on this rocky world are red-faced, white knuckled, and jaw grinding angry.

Always Be Nice?

Am I responsible for a calming, soothing approach toward an individual brandishing a sword and armed with an explosive device? Sometimes, the grandma in me wants to just sit down next to the person and put my arm around them and say something warm and fuzzy.

Baking or Boxing

Sadly, my grandma’ing experience is limited, but my brawler DNA is well-toned and fired-up most of the time. So, I intentionally take a break and bake a cake, or paint a picture. My intentions are good, if not all my Twitter responses.

Get It Out

All I’m saying is that,  if someone is angry, they should be able to find enough self-control, to re-channel that rage, turn it to energy and go run a couple of miles, go for a swim, clean out the garage, wax the floors, do the laundry, walk the dog, VOLUNTEER. Get that unhealthy anger out, through exercise and accomplishment, and not attacking someone 5,000 miles away that you will never see. And I promise to do the same, EXCEPT when related to Donald Trump. Quite honestly, in the case of Trump, I refuse to make any such promise.

Play Fair, No Need To Bully

Being a bully, whether at work, on the playground, or on the web, is just ugly.  It’s inexcusable. It is disgusting and it needs to stop. If you are angry and you want to increase the value of your argument, speak intelligently by knowing your facts, not just going with the last Facebook post you read. Be thoughtful in your comments, there is in most cases, two sides to every story.  People will listen.  People are ready for fresh and inspirational ideas and solutions. Make your social communication time count.

Four Letter Words

Anyone can put a string of four letter words together, even me. And I admit, I have in moments of weakness responded in such ways to a nasty tweet. Yes, I have snapped back in angry and belittling language. I do not believe I have ever initiated an attack. But, I’m asking that we aim to be better than that.  We are all, in the end, just human beings trying to do the best we can in an uncertain world.

Hanlon’s Razor

It may be wise to apply Hanlon’s Razor at times of such severe social agitation. The aphorism, if you aren’t familiar with the concept, hypothesizes that we should never attribute malice to a situation where human beings are concerned, without first considering old-fashioned stupidity and incompetence, as the real drivers of a bad situation.

Back Then

As such, we don’t always meet the level of goodness that we aspire to, but if there is no aspiration then there is no gain.  There  is no improvement or advancement.  If we are going to resort to base instincts, then I suggest we are still cavemen, but now we have technology as our club.

Finger Pointing

I listen to conservatives, all the time. I don’t need to agree with them, but I try to listen. UNTIL they begin attacking, or trying to spin their arguments BACK TWO DECADES to the actions of Bill Clinton’s scandal plagued presidency.

Crying Wolf

I want them to stop using Twitter for pointing and screaming, “look over there, look over there.” “Hillary and Uranium One!” “Benghazi!” “Emails!” “Pizzagate!” That’s like saying, the guys that robbed the First Interstate Bank shouldn’t be prosecuted because there were other people robbing banks all over the country. WTF?

You Don’t Know Me

I find it truly offensive that someone who doesn’t even know me, resorts to calling me such vile and deprecating names as, bi—, sl–, cu–, wh—, as—–.  I feel, that only people who really know me and have evidence to support those epithets, should be allowed to use them.  Certainly, not in a public forum. You know, what I mean.  Save those really nasty words for someone close to you.

Outhouse

Twitter should be respected as a great social platform, where people can safely exchange ideas in a civilized manner. A good fight is one thing, but using vile outhouse language to shut down the exchange of ideas is really inappropriate.

Passion

I understand passion.  Passion comes from understanding your goals and developing a sensible plan to reach those goals.  As such, it is not achieved through angry senseless rants to someone who has volunteered an opinion on a topic you oppose.

Who’s Fault?

Some people are blaming the impulsive, out of control behavior displayed by Trump as the cause.  The theory is that “if Trump can do it, so can I” has taken over social media thinking, and on-street hostile behaviors.

Following Twitter’s Goals

I’m not sure I’m ready to jump on the back of that hypothesis. I am however, ready to ask folks on social media to respect a couple of the basic original Twitter platform goals of idea sharing and participation in live events, in a safe, albeit, abbreviated manner.  In my mind, it is almost like the old telegraph communications translated to cyber space.

280 Characters

I always felt 140 characters was too limiting, and that fact led to misunderstandings. Maybe I was wrong, I don’t know, now that we have expanded to 280 characters I think sometimes it just gives a person more room for four letter expletives. Today I felt, that my adversary should have been cut back to negative -140 characters, immediately!

Follow Me

So, despite all my cautionary warnings, please follow me on Twitter, and talk nice. @Calamity Politics prides itself in addressing relevant topics and hopefully opening a dialog for political discussion. The commentary usually consists of a few daily, mildly caustic posts.  The blog viewpoint is definitely progressive .  At www.calamitypolitics.com we focus primarily on the US political scene.

False Memories

Remember, if you are for Medicare4All, free higher education, stopping climate change, providing environmental protections, ending Citizen’s United, abolishing the Electoral College, sensible gun control, raising taxes on the wealthy, establishing a sensible immigration policy; then you are against the backward looking Trump vision. Send me something about that on Twitter!

Looking Forward

Progressives do not spend their days reminiscing about the past, because we are getting ready to make a better future. We all know that the past is seen through the romance of time and is never as great as the memory. Let’s forget the past, or declare a holiday in memory of it, but let’s not try to relive a false history on Twitter.

Stronger Together

A better future, for all of us. An inclusive future where we all do better. Not just a few at the top. Hillary was right, we are “Stronger Together.”  Are you unhappy with the constant GOP drive to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?

Labels

Do their Twitter feeds need to constantly be decrying liberal politics as Socialism? Capitalism? Communism? Autocracy? There are multiple forms of government. But, at some point, a government, whatever its form, owes the greatest benefit to the greatest number, not the greatest benefit to the fewest number.

Take Action

If you feel that way, it might be time for you to  step up and take action. Don’t be afraid. You may end up the victim of a Twitter attack or two, but have no worries, there will be those that have your back, even on Twitter.

Consistency

Your actions don’t need to be earthshaking, but they do need to be consistent. Consistency is one of the most important parts of any program. Compose – Use Twitter to write tweets,  then write letters to the local newspaper and send copies  to your representative and your state senators.

Other Ways To Help

In addition to Twitter tweeting, you should join as many  protest marches as time and physical ability allow. Put a “resist” bumper sticker on your car. Call the White House and complain about the cost of golf trips. Run for office, 2020 is mere months away. Start a blog. I’ve blogged for 2 years. Calamity Politics.com is about to celebrate our second birthday.

Buck Up

No matter how far you want to take your activism, don’t let the potential of  Twitter attacks or thoughtless Instagram posts deter you.  No matter how crude the rant don’t let such behavior stop you. Ignore it. The important thing is to take some form of action against government policies that do not reflect your beliefs.

Group Effort

It is the collection of many actions that brings success to a movement. 2020 will be the most important election in our lifetime.  I truly believe that we as a democratic country can not withstand another four years of Donald Trump as president.

D. S. Mitchell

@calamitypolitics

www.calamitypolitics.com