As adults we should be conscious of what we circulate on social media

Once upon a time parents raised their kids with values and principles which they lived out. The example seen in parents’ lives helped pass on these values to succeeding generations.

As a senior citizen I have been very disturbed by videos and posts which are now circulating. I remember my mother saying “Unless you have something nice to say about someone it’s best you don’t say anything”. My parents never came to my school to defend me or to find fault with the school or teachers. We were never encouraged to carry tales about teachers or students. We learned to fight our own battles!

We also learned to accept failures, disappointments and even what may have seemed unfair to us without making a big deal about it. I guess that’s how we became resilient and took things in our stride.

Life was never about being competitive or wanting to always win, to come first or carry away prizes or be selected to netball or cricket team. If we weren’t selected it was not a big deal – in fact we rejoiced with those who were chosen! We never felt lesser beings for not coming first or not becoming a prefect. We grew up at a time when we got distinctions or credits or yes, passes at the GCE O’L exam. Parents didn’t compare or count how many D’s or C’s we got! If there were such parents, they were the exception. In the present era kids seem to be almost apologetic if they don’t get at least 5 A’s!

All our parents wanted was for us to grow up with decency, valuing things like integrity (fast dying in our society), kindness, courtesy, and respect for others (especially those who served in our homes or workplaces), a willingness to serve unnoticed, putting others first etc..

I remember an older, wiser person telling me, “Remember if you are a party to tales about someone else the chances are that one day if you cross that person’s path she will talk behind your back too!” How true that is. I am grateful to a friend who can point out my blind spots and faults and put me back on track…because they care. They don’t put it on social media because they know better, to come direct to me and talk about it.

When you or I decide to run down another on social media the readers or listeners are listening to only one side of the story…I am surprised and appalled how adults who should know better just click a button and forward social media ‘stories’. When it comes to their alma mater, I would like to ask them, when did you last write or visit the current school principal and ask in what ways you could help the school especially during this pandemic time?

As a senior citizen I appeal first to the generation of parents who have kids in school to teach your children that disappointments and even failures don’t mean that one is ‘a failure’. Teach them that these very failures can help build character. That social media is not a place to destroy another but that we are called to ‘build up’ with our words. In any situation, there is much that you and I may not be aware of. Before we speak/write critically we must get all the facts correct.

Even then, before we speak or comment or post any material, we must ask ourselves: -

Is it true?

Is it helpful?

Is it necessary?

Is it kind?

Unless we can answer ‘Yes’ to all of this, it is best that we stay silent. A concerned senior citizen Via email