Twitterized Politics and Civility

[Valin]

Townhall:

Terry Paulson

Apr 04, 2016

 

The love of speed, the popularity of instantaneous social media posts, and the need to feed a 24/7 media demand for election news has changed politics forever. Emotion has trumped due diligence and decorum. Critical discussion about issues has taken a back seat to a public enthralled or enraged by the latest attack or insult. Whatever the response to the latest tweet, the Twitter world erupts with messages that can’t be taken back.

 

It used to be that it took time to write or type out a letter to the editor. That time was an ally of clarity and civility. The heat of one’s emotion is gradually dissipated in the process of composing, typing, addressing, and sending a letter. A manager dictating an irate letter to a poor-performing supplier would benefit from a secretary who might ask, “Do you think ‘Bug Brain’ is the right opening salutation?” Thankfully, they’d have time to respond to their better angels and adjust copy before sending.

 

Our world today is built for immediacy. When you have only 140 characters and grammar is unnecessary, emotion reigns! By adding targeted hashtags to your tweets you can rally your like-minded friends or rile up your political adversaries. Hashtags were designed as a community-driven convention that have morphed into a political weapon. By adding a media or talk show hashtag, you just may get your provocative message read on air. Headlines, positive or negative, get exposure and feed the faithful and enrage their adversaries.

 

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