~~~~~

.. because you can!

There’s been a lot of turmoil this week on the Columbus social media scene. And it’s not even important what the original arguments were about, as they’ve tended to give way to meta arguments over the ‘proper’ use of social media. And as I write this, I’m realizing that I’ve seen this happen with every virtual community/ message board that I’ve been on since 1998. It starts out as a close community, new people show up, some of them “don’t get it” (read: offer a new perspective), someone throws a punch, people take sides, Abraham Lincoln tries to preserve the union.

It’s a little tiring to watch – not just because it happens to every community and every community somehow thinks it’s unique – but because the arguments always end the same way, with some peace-making platitude that shuts down the argument, yet resolves nothing. Something like this:

Social media is about getting your hands dirty. And if someone is an asshole, that’s the price of admission.

.. Ok, but if one person gets to be an asshole, remember that everyone else gets to be one also. So instead of a community of people with a common vision, we have a community of assholes. And maybe that’s a natural progression of a community and then it segments itself.

Well, that’s one way to do it. Not that we shouldn’t challenge each other, but it can be done civily. Does a challenge need to start with a glove slap?

OK – now go ahead and call me one. But I can at least claim that it’s not my intention to be.

A perspective I’m not understanding these last .. oh I guess it’s about 16 now .. years – are people who vote against their own self interests.

Now, I hear that phrase “against yer own self interests” associated with people who have very little – voting for a candidate who isn’t protecting their economic interest. Well, as perplexing as that phenomenon may be, it’s not outrageous that someone without means will not base their vote on economics. That is, if money were their highest priority when selecting a candidate, they might choose differently. (Here’s a really great talk on that subject: TED: Jonathan Haidt on the Moral Mind)

But, no – those are not the people I’m talking about, “voting against their own self interests.”

During the last campaign, I saw TV ads and blog posts of this ilk:
“To All My Valued Employees,

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. ….”

Oh – really? Do you realize that the taxes being talked about are personal income taxes? And they’re marginal? (look it up.) So the ‘extra’ tax is only on income you make over a certain threshold – which means you’re doing quite well. And you would prefer to stop making any income rather than pay tax on the upper bracketed income you make? You would really close down your source of income so you don’t have to pay taxes? (um, Did you know that if you went to work for someone else and made the same amount, you’d still have to pay them? Closing down your company isn’t going to change that.) You think you could give up what you have in this country and do better in another country? Because if you can, you should do it. It’s just good business.

OR This–

45% Of Doctors Would Consider Quitting If Congress Passes Health Care Overhaul

You have a better option? Take it! But something needs to be done about the level of care in the U.S. Do I want to government to run it? I don’t care. I want someone to run it. Step up if you think you can do it.

Now I must admit than in previous elections, I have jokingly threatened to leave the country if the election turned out a certain way. But I’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal somewhere else.

So here’s what I’m saying – if you’re joking or making idle threats about making a change and doing it just to show your frustration – well, fine.

But if you really think the best option is to close up shop and head for the hills – well, get going.