6.1.20: It's time to listen too.
Protests & social media.
June 1, 2020.
It’s Monday. I’m sorry this is a little late. I struggled all weekend (and all morning) trying to figure out exactly what I should say. To be quite honest, I still don’t really know. You don’t come here for my opinions — you come here to voice yours. But I don’t feel comfortable not saying anything.
I know many of you expressed some desire last week for lighter topics. I was hoping we’d be able to do that. I had a batch of questions on SpaceX and space travel for today, and some questions on baseball for later in the week. Now, all of that feels trite.
The simple truth is I’m a white man. As much as I see myself as an ally and friend to black people and brown people and people of all races, as much as I try to understand, I know I don’t. I know I can’t. I just want to listen more, and I hope we can use this platform to do that.
Many of you asked last week what you could do, and one of our anonymous users was kind enough to answer that call and respond:
Responding to the questions about what white people can do. I'm a POC. I would just suggest that they ask the POC in their offices, houses of worship, neighborhoods, alumni associations, families, etc. what they feel they should do. If they don't have anyone they are comfortable going to, there are plenty of resources online. I would also add--many POC are TIRED of trying to help white people help them. So proceed with caution, grace, and love... and if they don't respond or if they take their time responding, respect it.
Caution. Grace. Love.
Some of you also pointed out a trend amongst many of the comments in last week’s post.
An awful lot of the responses quoted in today's email said "As a white....." which makes me assume that an awful lot of tina is reflecting what white people think and feel. If we're honest, are white voices what need to be elevated most? If tina's mission is to give everyone a voice, I'm getting the sense it is missing the mark.
It is missing the mark, and the buck stops with me. I need to do a better job of using this platform to amplify the voices of those who are heard the least. It’s my responsibility, of course, but I hope you’ll join me on that mission.
We’ve got a couple questions for today, so click on the Let’s Talk button whenever you’re ready.
And finally, a comment from one of our anonymous users, a former police officer.
I missed the discussion on the George Floyd case but feel motivated to comment as my previous comment on the similar topic was highlighted. Again, as a retired officer and now an attorney justice needs to be served. Nowhere in America does a knee across the neck of a handcuffed suspect EVER permissible. The suspect is shown in the video I saw (albeit not a video of the whole interaction) as calm, compliant and increasingly under physical duress by the officer. He was apparently unarmed and posed no physical threat to any of the officers present. Again, I can’t speak to what happened up to the point captured by a bystander’s camera, but based on my knowledge of police training and the law it would seem that the officer should be terminated and prosecuted for the death of this man. The officers who stood by while this occurred have culpability as well. This event will potentially set back race relations and distrust of police for many millions of Americans in ways we can’t even see right now. As a retired officer I am embarrassed and ashamed but hope that a full, fair and swift move towards justice occurs. I’m saddened by what I saw. I’m hurt and disturbed by what I saw and I hope that like minded individuals use this opportunity to become involved in positive ways to evoke change in policing to salvage what trust may remain of those good, fair and decent officers out there.
Share Tina with someone you love.
Results from May 29, 2020
Question 1: Should social media companies be able to censor content on their platforms that they deem inappropriate or misleading?
For question #1, censor is a strong word. Flagging a tweet as misleading with provided fact checks and flagging content as inciting violence is in my opinion extremely appropriate. The only argument I have heard to defend Twitter's actions is that other people do it too. But surely don't we want to hold those with most power to a different standard than your drunk uncle?
Regarding Q1: They should be able to censor things that are deemed criminal (selling drugs, child porn, advocating violence, etc...) but not things that are merely a POV, regardless of how extreme, misleading or unfounded. Let the reader/viewer beware and consider the source.
Social Media companies are private companies and can censor their users however they would like. I feel there is nothing wrong with fact-checking user content as long as they provide sources users can look into if they so choose.
Question 2: Do you believe social media companies should be legally responsible for the content individuals private users post on their platforms?
Companies shouldn’t be legally responsible for what their users do on a given platform. However, I do believe they have a responsibility to maintain how information is spread. I’ve seen, in some instances on Facebook where a post depicting, say, for a example, a bloodied body from a car accident (that an account shared to raise awareness and explain the incident) has an overlay on it to inform users that the post has sensitive content. I think something like that should be implemented across social media platforms in order to controlled what’s being shared and give a user the option to see what’s pictured behind it if they choose to unmask it. The companies themselves definitely shouldn’t be held responsible for what’s being shared. That is not their responsibility.
Compare a social media company to a gun manufacturer. Neither should be held responsible for the actions of their users. But when they themselves take up their weapons...
Question 3: Which of these social media platforms do you believe are making the world mostly better?
I can't wait to see the user comments for questions 3 and 4. I'm expecting all kinds of challenges on the "most better/worse" wording. I struggled with that overall but especially with YouTube. I use it to listen to music. Watching comedy on it helped me get through some dark times. But a NY Times "The Daily" podcast on the Rabbit Hole of YouTube made me question this.
tough question on making world better or worse questions with regard to social media. I took extreme view because tired of people focused on their devices. We need more unplugging to help make the world better. granted there are certain parts of social media which help people communicate and connect. Just not sure we are making world better.
Question 4: Which of these social media platforms do you believe are making the world mostly worse?
Regarding social media questions: it was interesting that I felt some were net positive, but for ones I didn’t feel made world mostly better I also didn’t jump to saying they make the world mostly worse. For example I didn’t select Facebook for either because it can be useful for staying connected when used. I don’t know enough about the under the hood algorithms that might make things more divisive or echo-chambery. This approaches philosophical debates on whether tech itself is inherently bad or it’s use by people abusing the tech results in consequences. Complicated topic
Question 5: On a scale of 0 (the worst) to 10 (the best), how are you feeling overall?
The Sentiment Index declined since last week. We’re down to 6.9.
Make it all the way through but forget to answer today’s questions?
Click on the Let’s Talk button below to get started.