I love technology. I love the internet. I love the immediate access to information. I love email I love the immediacy of communication. However, I must admit that I spend more time on the computer than is good for my social and aerobic health. That said, I am not on the cutting edge of current information technology. I don't have internet/email access on my cell phone. I do not use Twitter.
In imposing some controls on any desire I might have to broadcast any and all my most mundane thoughts and emotions into the ether, I like to refer to Jesse Green's article entitled, "Web 2.0. All the Cool Lawyers Are Doing It" , especially this quote:
"You don’t need the intimacy and immediacy of social networking. Clients and the public do not want or need to know that you are a ‘fan’ of sunsets or to get ‘tweets’ from you between deps. No one cares to get daily updates about the status of your Board Room remodeling project."
Excellent point. I do use Facebook. I have established and re-established contact with many people through the site. I have learned a great many things I have used on this site. But---I don't post that I feel happy, or that I feel sad, that I like Project Runway, or that I hate raking leaves, that Kanye West is an idiot, etc. Many of my Facebook friends do, and many of those people might benefit from taking Jesse Green's advice. For, many of those friends are elected officials, and/or elected official wannabes, and other such highly placed folks.The ability of these people to post to social networks, often from hand-held communication devices have produced these actual messages. The identity of the author is omitted to protect them from themselves:
From a current statewide elected official with bigger plans for the future:
"Great way to start the day - fighting w/ a plugged toilet at 530.....and thinking which kid did this? :). Plunging skills still work"
From an elected city official in Southeast Michigan:
"(Name) just iced Melanie Rivera, bringing their total body count to 110 in Mafia Wars. (Name) is offering you a special bonus to make you as fierce as they are!"
And these from a recently appointed Athletic Director of a big Michigan High School:
"(Name) is STILL SKIRT of CHUCK MANSON....
(Name) is A BEAST....
(Name) isFRESH2DEF....."
I am not impressed by any of these, and I assume most adults and voters would not be, either. Let's try inserting some names into these quotes, and see how they sound. These are not the names of the actual authors, but people who have been in similar positions of power and authority.
"Great way to start the day -John Engler is fighting w/ a plugged toilet at 530.....and thinking which kid did this? :). Plunging skills still work"
(Imagine what the fans of John Engler might do with that. "Hey big John, always blaming others for the problems you created. Everyone knows you're full......--well, you get the idea. Try putting in Bill Milliken's name instead, and you still say "Bill, I really don't care about your plumbing problems, and it concerns me that you think I should.)
"Kwame Kilpatrick just iced Melanie Rivera, bringing their total body count to 110 in Mafia Wars. Kwame is offering you a special bonus to make you as fierce as they are!"
(Okay. Bad example.)
"Bo Schembechler is STILL SKIRT of CHUCK MANSON....
Bo Schembechler is A BEAST....
Bo Schembechler isFRESH2DEF....."
(I am sure Woody Hayes would be quaking in his boots.)
So, all you Twits and Facebookers, use a little judgment, and trying thinking a little farther in advance than the end of your IPhone's touchscreen. The world little cares about the trivia of your private lives and entertainments, and voters hope that you have your mind occupied with bigger issues than where the family plunger is located, or whether Charles Manson makes parole.
The ease with which a communication is sent may be inversely proportional to that communication's value.
