Socially Speaking...

Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter offer each of us personally and organizationally a platform to champion something sincere that we believe others should or might also appreciate. This civil right shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

 Over the last decade we have watched our global society grasp the concept of utilizing their personal digital spaces like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to express their very specific individual – oftentimes political and religious – views. But more recently, I believe this digital liberation is leaving us with a societal predicament. The outcome of expression carries a deeper responsibility than some are willing to or have ever been taught to properly recognize.

The story isn't new: person doesn't like something or even worse someone; person posts content on the internet that says as much; person's comments offend, manipulate, and hurt anywhere from one person to millions of people. I believe it's the familiarity of this story that has created a sad sense of common complacency. 

Two teachers, one in Florida, and the other more recently in New Jersey have gained international media focus for posting their aggressive anti-LGBT and faith-based opinions on their Facebook and Twitter account. These accounts were clearly not secured enough to prevent from mass public viewing – a mass public that includes their students past, present and future.

The teacher from Florida, after having been temporarily side lined from his teaching duties while the school board investigated his actions, was eventually found to be within his civil rights. The school board declared that as long as his activity was within legal standing, they had no right to discipline him for actions that took place on his own time and in a public forum.

The case of the New Jersey teacher is still under investigation by the school board. However, Edward Barocas, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in New Jersey, released the following statement:

“Although we do not agree with the sentiments expressed on Ms. Knox’s personal Facebook page, her beliefs and comments are protected by the First Amendment.” 

We will never know if these two teachers thought of their students before pressing the all-mighty "send" button. But that’s the very moment we should focus on. I can almost guarantee that it will forever alter the degree of comfort that should be required to extend to all students. LGBTQ students run a wide range of being “out”. Not all students have the capabilities or confidence to speak out about their discomfort of being educated by someone who has so openly displayed an aggressive distaste for a specific demographic.

Before we press the “Share” button – be it literal or the metaphorical – we must all ask ourselves:

• Why am I am saying this?
• Why am I saying this now?
• Why am I choosing to use this forum to express this opinion?
• What are the potential outcomes of my making this expression?
• Who if anyone will be effected by my expression, directly or indirectly?
• Do I care that it may affect them?
• If I don’t care, why not?

It may seem silly to think: “Oh right, I should ask myself seven questions before updating my Facebook status”! As naïve as you perhaps consider this to be, the answer for all the right reasons is, yes you should.

By quickly thinking over these very simple questions before we engage in any type of communication, online or off, we are already avoiding countless volatile conflicts. 

This topic is extremely relevant to the diversity conversations we all should be having. Civil rights provide us with the right to speak our minds freely. But it’s up to us to learn the art of speaking freely appropriately.

“But I... never could make a good impromptu speech without several hours to prepare it.”

 ~Mark Twain, 1879 speech

UPDATE 1/13/12: 

According to www.Towleroad.com:

"The Union Township School District has made its first steps toward firing her (Ms. Knox):

The Union Township school board has filed tenure charges against Viki Knox, the high school English teacher whose anti-gay remarks on Facebook raised a firestorm over her free speech rights and her role as a public school teacher.

The board formally filed the charges against Knox in late December, a step that begins the lengthy and costly process to fire Knox, school board president Ray Perkins said. He could not comment on the findings of the district's three-month investigation of Knox's conduct."

 

Generational Diversity: The Inclusion of Andy Rooney

For years I have watched the news magazine program 60 minutes every Sunday, usually alongside my family. Something traditional we have always done as a sort of simple immediate family occurrence to end the weekend and start the fresh work/school week together. 

This past weekend the iconic Andy Rooney sang his swan song after spending time with us in our living rooms for over 40 years. He launched his writing career in 1942, reporting for the U.S. Army newspaper Stars and Stripes.


During this time, his personal history gained experiences such as being one of six correspondents who flew on the first American bombing raid over Germany during WWII, and being one of the very first journalists to visit a Nazi Concentration Camp – an experience that forever changed his mind-set on the validity of war. He began writing for CBS in 1964 and then joined the 60 minutes desk in 1978. This last Sunday he offered us his final tidbit of curmudgeonly wisdom one last time with his “Few minutes with Andy Rooney” segment.

Realizing that his sense of experience and awareness is his draw, Mr. Rooney struck an unexpected chord with me. Andy Rooney is a wonderful example of how diversity of thought and, more specifically, generational inclusion has incredible value not only historically and socially, but also creatively and economically. Even his colleagues, such as Morley Safer (who will see his 80^th birthday this coming November), exemplify the strength behind utilizing both the Boomer and Silent Generations.

 Mr. Rooney is retiring at the age of 92, although according to him, “writers never retire”. He also wants to be very clear that he never considered himself a television personality, but rather a writer that reads what he writes.

60 Minutes is the most successful broadcast in U.S. television history based strictly on ratings. The program secured classic TV ranks after being the top-rated program for five of its seasons, joining suite with equally historic hits All in the Family and The Cosby Show. This achievement has been surpassed only by the goliath that is American Idol. However, 60 Minutes was a top ten show for 23 seasons in a row (1977–2000), a title they still hold today.

Viewers are tuning in expressly for an experienced generational opinion – another example of how cross generational conglomeration provides exciting and out of the box experiences for an audience or clients.

As we live in a society of the “here and now”, we often classify people very quickly when it comes to age. The toxic stereotyping of “younger equals ‘naïve’, while older means ‘out of touch’” is harmful to the emotional work environment, as well as the organization as a whole.

Human beings are living longer, healthier lives. With the global economic dive that we are still recovering from, many people must continue working well past their anticipated retirement age. However, this naturally imposed work-life diversity should be recognized as the privilege it is. We must consistently embrace the gift of generational diversity. It is with the inclusion of any demographic and co-operative ideas that our organization’s potential can be continuously elevated. To reject any idea purely based on its origin is a disservice to yourself, your business, and quite frankly an emotional assault on the courageous thinker.

Andy Rooney is most certainly that: a courageous thinker. Despite the fact that he has offered more than a few opinions that raised an even larger number of eyebrows, 60 Minutes would not have been then nor will be in the future the same without his presence.

We must be, and fill our lives with, courageous thinkers. Our personal histories will always play into the decisions we make and the ideas we create. Including people whose personal histories are unequivocally more experienced and rich in navigating those decisions and creations can only be considered a wise option.

“I believe if all the truth were known about everything in the world, it would be a better place to live.”

-Andy Rooney