How To Be A Force For Positive Change On Social Media
My nephew is an atmospheric scientist. Yes, I am bragging, but there is also a reason I bring this up. The other day I was involved in an online discussion with him and he expressed his frustration with the fake news that spreads faster than he and the scientific community can respond to. I not only agreed but have often felt the frustration of trying to stamp out lies and misinformation only to have someone ignore the evidence I’ve shared with them and simply pile another piece of misinformation on the discussion.
My nephew is an atmospheric scientist. Yes, I am bragging, but there is also a reason I bring this up. The other day I was involved in an online discussion with him and he expressed his frustration with the fake news that spreads faster than he and the scientific community can respond to. I not only agreed but have often felt the frustration of trying to stamp out lies and misinformation only to have someone ignore the evidence I’ve shared with them and simply pile another piece of misinformation on the discussion.
As someone who has spent his life studying weather (from a
young child he kept a daily weather log), my nephew shows a remarkable amount
of restraint and patience in discussing the subject of climate change. More
than I could muster, I confess. But as it is me who is the one most loudly
crying out against censorship, I thought it my duty to take his frustration
into consideration. Which got me thinking about how the whole idea of free
speech in the age of social media is supposed to work. Therefore I share below
my ideas for how to most effectively spread truth, good will, and positive
change through social media. While my nephew’s frustration was the genesis of
this article, my suggestions are not directed at him but to a larger audience.
-First, accept that this is the task that is before you. You may
consider yourself a scientist or a teacher, a poet or a naturalist, but whatever
you are, you are involved in a propaganda war. It is your job to sidestep the
propaganda of powerful interests in order to connect on a human level with
others. This should not be the way things are, it should not be your job to
make people aware of the narratives implanted in society in order to advance
the agendas of powerful and selfish groups, but it’s reality. You have to get
over the idea there’s some great truth-telling machine out there that is going
to do the work for you. Only humans can connect with other humans on a truly
human level. And don’t think it’s too hard or someone else will do the job,
because it’s a job that must be done and you are an important part of creating
a better future.
-Speak with whatever authority you possess. Everybody has
some area of expertise in which they know more than the average person. I’ve
been involved in plenty of climate change discussions where people who are not
climate scientists nevertheless throw out all kinds of statistics I am not
prepared to refute. But I’m fairly researched in the area of propaganda and
marketing and will stick to this area when arguing science. The fact that
energy manufacturers admitted in internal documents they knew their product was
causing climate change is pretty damning evidence against climate change
denial. At the bare minimum, you are a human being earnestly searching for truth
in a respectful manner. This alone demands respect and decency from anyone you
engage with, and puts you a step above those who are mere cogs in a corporate
machine pushing a corporate agenda. Call people out whenever you hear them
uncritically regurgitating talking points from corporate think tanks.
-Speak honestly. If you are disingenuous in your argument,
even if you win a battle you will lose the war.
-Speak courageously. You must let people know the depth of
your commitment to your cause(s).
-Speak lovingly. You’re on the side of the good guys, right?
Good guys don’t hate. Good guys don’t want to “destroy” people in an argument,
they want to build consensus.
-Refuse to accept that there is an “us” and a “them”. Again,
you are on the side of the good guys, or so you say. Good guys believe that we
can all get along by respecting one another and basic principles. Even if you believe
some people can never get along, believe in the majority of humanity who will
help keep them adhering to general norms of decency.
-Stick to issues, not people or parties.
-Make respectful conversation the norm. Do everything you
can to elevate the conversation and convince people that real dialogue is not
only possible but expected.
-Invest in everyone you have a conversation with, but know
when it is time to cut your losses. In other words, let people know you will
give a fair listen to their thoughts, but realize when they are not doing the
same for you. Some people will sap every last ounce of energy from you without
ever really listening to what you share with them. Seek to engage with people,
but avoid coddling them. As it says in The Bible, “But whoever does not receive
you, neither listens to your words, when you depart from the house or from the
village, shake the sand from your feet.”
-Remember when engaging in conversation on social media that
you have no idea who you might be reaching. I’ve had conservatives love
something I’ve posted with liberals in mind and liberals love what I’ve posted
with conservatives in mind. Give honest insight into any topic and there will
be someone you’ve reached you were not reaching for.
-Remember that you are not only speaking for yourself but for
those who have no voice of their own: those who are silenced through fear,
those who are imprisoned, future generations, those who do not speak English. Only you can give voice to the
trees, the animals, the Earth. Open yourself up so that they might speak
through you.
-Speak through example. Some people will never be convinced
by argument. They may, however, be swayed by the way you live according to your
beliefs. If you argue that something must be done about climate change, you
better be able to show what you are personally doing to combat climate change. The
solution may not be through individual actions, but we must do what we can to
eliminate any stumbling blocks others might encounter in our personal conduct.
-On a related note, if you are doing your part and making
sacrifices to combat a problem, don’t be shy about sharing it. Let people know that
you are doing your part and that it is necessary for others to do their part as
well.
-If you are speaking from a very real and honest conviction,
there is no shame in arguing from a position of strength. Use whatever skill you
possess to put your case forward as convincingly as possible.
-When engaging in conversation, be always willing to learn.
Realize that whatever you say is but a part of a larger conversation.
Communication, at its best, is a melding of minds. Being able to lose yourself
in a conversation is one of the great joys of being human. Whenever possible,
bring that childlike part of you that engaged in late-night conversations with
friends during sleepovers. Convert people to the joy of real, open,
communication.
-Be aware of abusive behavior so that you do not fall into
the traps of abusive people, mindsets, and institutions. Nobody believes they’re
capable of being manipulated and bullied until it’s too late. Learn the signs.
Much of the destructive narratives in society are there because of gaslighters.
-Educate yourself on logical
fallacies and look for them being used.
Those are a few ideas for making communication through social media more productive and maybe even more pleasant. Just as there is a potential for madness in crowds, there
is also a potential for genius. But I have 20 more days to go in my Facebook
ban, so I will save that for another night.
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