No matter what your beliefs are, we all have developed our own stance on topics.
Social media has been a place to share valuable information and to increase awareness of many topics.
But when and where did it come down to that only one side can have an opinion?
Many times now, you will see someone make a post or comments on a post about a topic to only have their opinion ridiculed. Are we not able to have our own opinion? Why is it that only the most outspoken and abrupt participants can continue with their dialogue?
These online forums and social media apps are supposed to be a place where communication can grow. I don’t believe it was designed with the thought that it is easier to defend your opinion, and to have a one sided conversation.
So many people have been silenced by the aggressive backlash being found on these forums. If one side can present their views and opinions, so should the other side.
It has happened that a parent in Ottawa asked how things are planned (during the truck rally) so she can make arrangements to get her child to CHEO and she pleads that she is not against the actions but just needing to ensure the safety of her child and the comments come back that “we all have to make sacrifices”. Seriously, is this what we have been lowered to?
One person against another; we have fought to be able to live in a country where we can have our own views, and that respect for each other no matter what your choice of profession, background, sexual orientation and the list goes on; yet we see this aggression and then belittlement of others growing.
It is true, it is easy to say something when you are texting, emailing, tweeting, the choice is yours but ultimately there is a real live human being on the other end of that transaction. Why is it only your opinion that matters? If you really didn’t want to share your thoughts and see what others feel to have an overall view of a situation, then why post it all over social media?
We all do not think alike and nor should we be forced to.
As farmers we are a small percentage of the population, but are continually fighting and educating to protect our livelihood against the expansion of beliefs that we are using technology to destroy everything. When we start having others in the community who cannot even ask a simple question to fellow colleagues in the agricultural industry, we have really split hairs, and caused a decrease in our strength.
Social medial is for that exact purpose – to remain social. It is not a place to attack and not allow others to share their opinions on a specific situation. Keep that in mind, if you were standing face to face with someone would you say the same things or would you think before you speak. I guess the new policy to embrace would be think before you type.
Linda Vogel
