When Political Dialogue Goes to Far on Social Networking
I'm actually surprised it hasn't happened sooner but according to an article in today's El Paso Times, the political craziness on Facebook has finally crossed a line.
Personally I think it crossed a line a long time ago.
I'm not talking about censorship, I'm talking about common decency and effectiveness in communication. I've lost track of how many ridiculous stunts have occurred over Facebook and Twitter during the campaign, but when it goes to the extreme that the DPS feels the need to station a patrol unit to the home of State Rep Marisa Marquez just to be safe is a very sad commentary on the state of dialogue in El Paso politics.
For some reason we have gone from polite discourse to passionate date and now on to full-on war. It doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to always go to war with people over political differences.
I'll give you an example. The Ron Paul supporters. They are a disciplined group of people. I disagree with most of what they stand for politically, but we never have to go to war with each other over it. I think there is a mutual respect for one another as a result.
For some reason everything has to be a freakin' street fight in this town. Oh, don't get me wrong, there are more than a few people in this town that I have no problem going to war with if I have to.
But the question is...do you have to? The answer is, no. You can choose not to. The people that make fools of themselves with their extremism are all over the place in social media. It started a couple years ago and has been refined to lethal potency of vitriol over this past election cycle.
Its the bad part of social media. The creation of fake facebook profiles to say crazy stuff without having to stand by it or be held accountable, the creation of goofy groups, or the efforts to otherwise use social media as the platform to go to extremes is embarrasing. Its sad that law enforcement had to actually get involved with an alleged threat against a public official, but it puts in to perspective the fact that we can all say just about anything we want, but we still have to understand that while criticism comes with the territory, you can't make an alleged threat to a public official.
I hope this doesn't stifle debate, in fact I know it won't. But I do hope it serves as a wake-up call to the unstable and extremists out there.
Personally I think it crossed a line a long time ago.
I'm not talking about censorship, I'm talking about common decency and effectiveness in communication. I've lost track of how many ridiculous stunts have occurred over Facebook and Twitter during the campaign, but when it goes to the extreme that the DPS feels the need to station a patrol unit to the home of State Rep Marisa Marquez just to be safe is a very sad commentary on the state of dialogue in El Paso politics.
For some reason we have gone from polite discourse to passionate date and now on to full-on war. It doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to always go to war with people over political differences.
I'll give you an example. The Ron Paul supporters. They are a disciplined group of people. I disagree with most of what they stand for politically, but we never have to go to war with each other over it. I think there is a mutual respect for one another as a result.
For some reason everything has to be a freakin' street fight in this town. Oh, don't get me wrong, there are more than a few people in this town that I have no problem going to war with if I have to.
But the question is...do you have to? The answer is, no. You can choose not to. The people that make fools of themselves with their extremism are all over the place in social media. It started a couple years ago and has been refined to lethal potency of vitriol over this past election cycle.
Its the bad part of social media. The creation of fake facebook profiles to say crazy stuff without having to stand by it or be held accountable, the creation of goofy groups, or the efforts to otherwise use social media as the platform to go to extremes is embarrasing. Its sad that law enforcement had to actually get involved with an alleged threat against a public official, but it puts in to perspective the fact that we can all say just about anything we want, but we still have to understand that while criticism comes with the territory, you can't make an alleged threat to a public official.
I hope this doesn't stifle debate, in fact I know it won't. But I do hope it serves as a wake-up call to the unstable and extremists out there.
"Drop by the house" should be drop by the office. My mistake.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot worry too much about Norma. The same woman who threats libel suits and claims to have libel file is going on about the First Amendment. The same woman who claims to be a "private citizen", has a radio show, blog and remains (or tries) active in political activities.
ReplyDeleteEthan did himself no favors. He is worried about being exposed, but he did not help his attempt of concealing his identity by posting his address on a public facebook page. Now he is shocked that underneath his internet persona of a Mexican revolutionary is special ed teacher at a public school.
If the Tiguas are putting up money for Norma's show...fool me once (Abramoff), shame on you, fool me twice (Norma), shame on me.