STOP NAME-CALLING AND UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS
While it is good to encourage discourse on social media, are we actually listening to what the other is saying?
IT’s getting toxic out there in the social media universe. With polls tomorrow, and things hotting up, conversations across the political divide are getting to be less civil. Many of us are relentless in promoting our agenda, above all else. Very few of us really do listen to what others might have to say.
This, thus, begs the question — do we really ever get our points across in our discourses over social media, or are we just shouting at, or over, each other? Maybe, we just like the sound of our own voices.
This is the digital equivalent of a university’s junior common room, where everyone has a point of view and wants everyone else to know that he has one. We drown each other with our views, piling yet another layer of facts, and at times, fiction. We post opinions, forward articles and push ideas and ideologies without really caring what they are getting through to others.
Are we merely lapping what meets our fancy and deride those that do not? We are drowned in the shrill of our making. The weight of our opinions and righteousness serve as blinkers as we approach the final straight; for some, this has been the culmination of five years of non-stop campaigning
“Discourse” is a generous way of describing the exchanges over social media. In the realm of politics, for instance, they are often nasty, vile, divisive and generally trying. We converse in endless streams of sound bites and oneliners. We are selective in the points we want to push, and remain silent on those that may harm our chances.
This digital soap box offers little room for ideological exchanges, much less conversations, ironically. While it could, in theory, open up avenues for interactions and the exchange of ideas, we all seem to be bogged down by the echoes of our own opinions.
I believe for us to be able to move forward, regardless of our convictions, be they political, religious or social in nature, there has to be a genuine attempt to listen. No matter how contemptuous an idea may be, we should always subscribe to the notion that it should be heard, discussed, rebutted in need be, or shot down, if the case called for.
In the theory of knowledge, ideas and theories that withstood challenges and intense scrutiny will, at the end of the day, likely to be proven to be correct. But first of all, it must be given an airing.
Social media is the greatest equaliser, allowing ideas to be shared by anyone to potentially millions over the ether, or on the converse, dying a natural death murmuring in cyberspace.
Such ability was before only available to the few, normally institutions, businesses or governments. Now, everyone with a mobile data plan can be a publisher. This levelling of the playing field democratises content. Yet, on the downside, the lowering of the entry level means that we are subjected to all types of content.
We are presumably at a crossroad like never before, while we may be supporting free speech, the guy falsely screaming “fire” in a crowded theatre, is likely to cause a stampede and endanger the lives of others. Ideally, he should face some reckoning for his action.
It is presumably a tall order to get people to be civil in cyberspace. The absence of physical contact encourages many to be confrontational, less inhibited and often reckless.
Be that as it may, I personally believe that we should always try to encourage engagement in social media. We may not like it, some of the conversation are not only a turn-off but are also disgusting. Yet, openness is the basis of a mature democracy.
Ironically, the ability of us citizens to appreciate and discern information that come our way, including the profane and despicable,
Discourse, including via the social media, is the basis of getting people to appreciate ideas other than theirs. We have to live with some of the unpleasantness and untruths as well, but this will help us develop a sixth sense of sorts, an internal filtering mechanism, that will enable us to separate the bull from the truth.
will go a long way in making us a more mature society, hopefully.
Discourse, including via social media, is the basis of getting people to appreciate ideas other than theirs. We have to live with some of the unpleasantness and untruths as well, but this will help us develop a sixth sense of sorts, an internal filtering mechanism, that will enable us to separate the bull from the truth.
It may be unpleasant at times, but a good idea will always survive the cyber trials and tribulations, and a bad idea will soon be found out. Social discourse is like water that will |soon find its level.
We are also living in this “posttruth” times, where facts are not really as sacrosanct and precious as before, especially when they get in the way of a good narrative.
I know it is rather impossible to ask given the current political climate, but, perhaps we should dial down the aggression, name calling, fakeries and unsubstantiated claims.
We need to detoxify our system.