The echo chamber of hate

We expect politicians to have thick skins, but we shouldn’t ask them to wear armour. Sadly, too many of them are in need of protection these days — protection from social media.

As this year’s municipal-election campaigns got under way, the bubbling viciousness of the past four years has boiled over. It has taken a toll on local politicians across the province, and it imperils our democracy.

In Victoria, Mayor Lisa Helps gave up her Facebook account because the comments from members of public had degraded from useful debate to a poisonous soup of hate. Sooke Coun. Kerrie Reay is not seeking re-election this year because, she said, the online attacks were “destroying my life.” Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read endured months of social-media abuse that culiminated in a threat against her, so she decided to cut back her public appearances.

Other municipal politicians say the online assaults are so widespread they are driving good people out of politics. We all have to be concerned about the loss of responsible leaders — and about those who never even put their names forward because they see the savagery inflicted on others.

Open debate is essential to a democracy, and social media at their best broaden the debate, bringing together people who might not ordinarily share their ideas. But too often, they give a platform to people who spew only hate and slander. Perhaps Helps has the right idea. When it comes to politics, leave social media to the hate-mongers and let them rage to each other — while the rest of us get to work.

Protecting politicians from social media