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| photo by stev.ie | via PhotoRee |
In this modern world we celebrate the fact that we have freedom of speech. With the exception of libel and what not we can pretty much say what we like. If we have an opinion we can share it… or can we?
Social media is a wonderful thing however sometimes I find that we are prohibited from saying what we think because some fear the wrath of the masses. Over the past year there have been many news items of note that have been dissected across Twitter and Facebook especially. Amy Winehouse’s death, the London Riots, Strikes and more have been hot topics and debate is good. Debate is healthy. What is neither good nor healthy is being pulled apart, verbally (in text form) abused or heckled.
This year I have seen some unbelievable messages posted around the internet. I’m unconcerned with the rights or wrongs of each news story but have been appalled at how people have been so willing to tear a person down for having an apposing view. Surely if you have internet access and a Twitter account you should (in theory) be mature enough to know that vicious name calling (to the extent of abusing people’s families too) and blatant bullying is unacceptable?!
I suspect a lot of it comes from the anonymity that being an internet user can provide. People seem quite happy to hide behind the avatar or profile picture when I’m sure they wouldn’t act the same way face to face.
Do we still have free speech? Really? To an extent we do but if the online society continues as it is, many will stop using their right to utilise it.
I’d be interested to hear what you think about this, is this not such a big issue? Is it just me who feels that this social censorship could very well get out of hand?
Is difficult. Since my brush with the awful photographers, I have been more wary, but I have noticed that since I added an avatar picture, tweeters are nicer.
Maybe it is harder to be horrible to a face.
I haven’t heard about the photographer thingy but I think you are right about people being nicer with “faces”.
I’m a lot more aware of what I say “in public” in general these days… maybe it’s a sign I’ve grown up a bit?
I know I’d love to say what I think about vaccinations (for the love of all that is holy – GET THEM!), and such, but I know if I did it would end up with a fair few people out of joint!
Like Scottish Mum pointed out (I also don’t know what the photographer thing was!), people tend to be nicer to a face. I know I’m more likely to follow a fellow tweeter who’s got a face as a profile picture than not!
I have to watch what I say…my OH wont let me post things that he doesnt approve of, so Im automatically censored.
I wrote a post the other day about something simular, http://thisisme-sarahmumof3.blogspot.com/2011/12/whats-going-on.html online bullying is rife in all walks of the net and life in general so yes i do watch what i say, and i do always double take, a few times i have wrote a post then never published it… theres a few reason, one i don’t want any contraversial come back and two my children know of my blog, their friends know of my blog and i always sensor posts so that IF they got a link and read a post it would hopefully sit well for them…
I have to say I am definitely cautious. I think you are right that verbal attacks are unnecessary and a simple I don’t agree with you, could suffice, or even an I think that’s a little uncalled for, you would not say those things to a person in public if you didn’t agree with them and that should be the code of conduct. Back to old school..if you can’t say it to their face, don’t say it at all!
It seems to me that people are either really nice or really controversial and there is not much in between. I’m not a very tactful person anyway so I do just say what I feel, but hopefully without being offensive – as I do in real life – I think!
Really interesting post. I totally know what you mean, people can be truly vile.
My personal opinion is to say what I think and exercise my blocking finger if people get personal.
ALthough I blog anonymously to allow me to say what I think a little more, I am still careful what I say and certainly avoid singling out individuals for ridicule ( or anything else) on my blog. If I criticise it will be a criticism of a group of people – ie those who drive 4x4s in central London without a speck of mud on them and ( on a good day -) with a single baby in a child seat it the back – usually there’s just the person driving!
I agree with the idea that if you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face ( do you really need a car that big?!) then I probably shouldn’t blog it. I also agree that I find the online slaggings on FB really incredible and unpleasant – usually way worse than the original” evil” statement made my the victim of the bullying that springs up. Interesting post xx