The best thing about the internet, and social media in general, is that everyone has a voice. This brings a very real “power to the people.” If you have a bad experience, or have been really wronged, you have a way to tell people about it. Most of the time, I think this is a great thing. It gives companies the incentive to do business “the right way.” The worst thing about the internet, however, is that everyone has a voice. What Facebook and Twitter and other social media platforms has proven is that if (some) people are able to spew garbage, untruths, and hate, they will. These people have, of course, always existed, but now they have a larger microphone. This makes it incumbent upon the rest of us to do a few things. Don’t Confuse Opinions with Facts: The saying goes that “everyone is entitled to their opinion.” It’s true. But everyone is not entitled to their own facts. For example, if you are frustrated with Coshocton, feel free to say “Coshocton is not what it once was,” or even “Coshocton sucks.” That’s your opinion. I don’t agree with it…but I respect your right to have it. On the other hand, please don’t say “There are no jobs in Coshocton.” That is empirically false. Be Thoughtful About Our Voice: What does this mean? It means you need to think before you hit “send.” Don’t just share any post that comes along (that might agree with your agenda). Do some research to make sure it’s based in any truth before you just share it. If you don’t have time to do that…then just don’t post. To be clear, I think we are living in an amazing time. We have opportunities our great grandparents could never have imagined. We have ways to grow a business, grow our brand, and create influence. We have a great opportunity to have a real voice. Let’s just make sure we deserve it. Make sure you never miss an update. Feel free to sign up to become our VIP. You can do that by signing up here.
