Talking, writing and thinking… oh my | Editorial

The way we talk is changing day by day and in many ways staying the same.

Social media programs are the hot topics these days. New programs pop up and everyone gets all zippy about them — especially me. They’re fun, or, as close as I get to having fun.

Social media has made the newspaper business both fascinating and sometimes a little like the wild west.

This newspaper has a Facebook page and Twitter account, both called Kent Reporter. We post to them on a daily basis.

For the news business, Twitter and Facebook is a lightning fast feed of information. They are excellent way to track stories and get inside information.

I’ve broken several stories by sending messages to folks. I do love the chase of a breaking story. It is my addiction.

I don’t spend time posting about what I am doing outside of work because I don’t do anything, but, I love living through others. The best part of Facebook for me, besides getting news tips, is spicing up my pickle jar life.

I have some friends on Facebook (yes, I do have friends — sort of) and when they don’t post I call and jump on them. I can’t have my life start slipping when they drop the ball.

SharePost, a financial website, reports that Facebook is worth about $50 billion. One of the reasons cited for the high ticket price is the personally directed ads Facebook places on the pages of its members.

I seriously question whether those ads are worth the billions of bucks. Here is a secret for the boys that have clicked the “I am single” box. Those girls who show up on the side of your page don’t know your name, don’t want to know your name and don’t like you. Sorry to ruin your fun, but things haven’t changed much from high school.

If there is a concern about Facebook and the other social media companies it is the collection of personal data.

Facebook, Google and other social media and Internet companies are in the process of a massive gathering of data on the members who sign up. The idea is the companies will sell this data to advertisers.

Selling to advertisers may be annoying, but our worry is probably not a company trying to sell the best hair brush to a bald guy. It is our government… it is us.

That personal data is an irresistible wading pool for the government and as a people and community we need to be aware of this.

A story on CNN noted the government made more than 8,000 requests for personal information from Google in 2010.

I am sure most of us would think nearly all those request are necessary or appropriate. But hysteria can suddenly take hold of a country if the people feel threatened. During those times emotions ride some pretty wild waves and the first causaulty is often Constitutional rights.

Talk and dialogue is the one of the ways for us to be aware of our government, our community and to keep our balance. There are some folks who state Facebook, Twitter and texting is making us into a bunch of furry-headed crazy people.

Reminds me of when I was in college and everyone was saying how television would turn us into… ah.. furry-headed crazy people. Apparently, the transformation into crazy people has been going on for a while.

My guess is if there is a hideous beast waiting to drive us over the edge it is not hiding in a software program, but inside us.

Talk is still talk, and if we can find ways to communicate, whether it is a perfect system or not, we will be better for it and our government will be better.

On this paper’s website, www.kentreporter.com, there are often interesting strings of comments on stories. Soon several new blogs from community members will be featured on the website.

I don’t think talking is the problem, or Facebook, or Twitter or texting. If there is something to worry about it is those who want to stop others from talking because they disagree with their ideas. There is nothing like watching someone shout their opinion from the top of the hill then run into the woods so they don’t have to hear the other side of the story.

That is the danger and it is called group think. It is seen in political bodies and just as often in the audience.

The disturbing thing I see on a daily basis at many of the public meetings I cover is watching groups gather with the express intent of not listening to anyone but their own shouts.

Sometimes the sweet sound of our own voice is the siren’s song.

We should keep talking, keep writing and keep listening. It is the dialogue in all its forms that will protect us and keep us strong.