Don’t Blame Twitter For The Swine Flu Brew Ha-ha, After All, It’s Just People Talkin’!

The swine flu outbreak is causing debate about how people get information during health emergencies – particularly when there are so many independent news sources.
Folks like Brennon Slattery (PC World Contributing Writer) feel Twitter -- a micro-blogging site where users post 140-character messages – is fueling misinformation about the outbreak. Folk went on to say "This is a good example of why [Twitter is] headed in that wrong direction, because it's just propagating fear amongst people as opposed to seeking actual solutions or key information."

How do you feel about that? Do you think that Twitter is being socially irresponsible?

Well, here’s my take—I totally disagree. You know why, because Twitter is just that, a bunch of folks chatting away about anything that comes to mind. It’s just people talking! You see, it’s what Twitter isn’t that makes this whole “Twitter social responsibility” thing irrational.

Twitter is not a blog. Blog’s, albeit of a tremendous variety of subjects, generally try and pass on information of value to their readers. Many bloggers consider themselves experts, or diligent followers, of the subjects of their blogs. Blogs give authors more than 140 characters to develop a story line and generally allow authors to site sources: most do. So, readers might expect to gain a modicum of truth about the Swine Flu outbreak from let’s say, a health blog. But I don’t know any reader who would expect to find something of value about the Swine Flu on a pornographic blog! And you best believe that not all bloggers are created equal. Some writers are more “expert” than others (academic education in field, lifelong experience, etc). Some do more research. Some bloggers are biased and favor a particular viewpoint on a subject. But, no matter what, the lesson is the same, take what you read with a grain of salt—its just people talking!

Twitter is not a full blown social networking site like Facebook, MySpace, or LinkedIn. Why is this so significant? Because on such sites; you’re going to have a lot of folks who have the same general interest and as much or more expertise than the author. This is what makes them so much fun. There will always be someone with an alternative point of view and able to express it in more than 140 characters. Twitter’s mantra says it all, “What Are You Doing?” It’s just people talking!

Twitter is not YouTube, a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. Many fancy themselves as cub reporters showing events as they happen in real time. Twitters tweet. What can you learn from a bird? Relax. It’s just people talking!

So for me, to say that Twitter should “seek actual solutions or key information” is to say that every human being who has anything to say should say something meaningful. They should, but they don’t! And in Twitter’s case, I actually think this is a good thing. You see, Twitter provides a great service, especially in this instance, because it gives people a place to vent: which lessens anxiety.

And, did I mention that the Centers for Disease Control has its own Twitter account?

The Twitter “debate” is stupid, people aren’t. The tweeters on Twitter understand that gathering information, from any source, is just like buying something: caveat emptor “let the buyer beware.” They understand they’re just talking!

One of the real issues here is where should people EXPECT to get credible information about such things? While there’s a host of good tweets on it; it definitely isn’t Twitter.

There is also the issue of satisfying the public’s need for credible information. Perhaps the Government or more specifically President Obama should speak to the American people and let them know what’s going on…in lieu of the media sound bites.

Finally, the current Swine Flu outbreak has sparked a number of old debates and questions. Hmm…perhaps it’s time to discuss immigration? How about what to do with the boarders? Just what are you going to do to protect US citizens from this outbreak and others like it? Are illegal aliens in the US putting all Americans at risk with insanitary lifestyles based on the cultures and countries they came from (e.g. keeping farm animals within the city limits and in their homes)?

While I don’t know the answer to these questions, the Government does, or at least it should. And believe me the American people (even Tweeple) expect the Government and not Twitter to address them now.

How do you feel?

- Has Twitter been irresponsible?

- Where have you been getting your information on the Swine Flu epidemic?

- Do you feel the Government has done a good job of keeping the public informed?

23 Days To Inauguration: Should You Care About What Rick Warren Is Saying?

There’s a furor in the black community over the selection of Rick Warren to give the invocation at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. Many, in both the black and Gay communities’ criticize Mr. Warren for his stances on the issues of Gay marriage and abortion. But it’s not that Mr. Warren is speaking at the inauguration that bothers me. I’m concerned about all the other “motivating” elements out there and their influence on white Anglo-Saxon sentiment.

First up are conservative talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh. As you know, Mr. Limbaugh is almost always surrounded in controversy for exposing racist and bigoted views. For instance, as the host of "Sunday NFL Countdown" Mr. Limbaugh said that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed. Most recently, during the 2008 Presidential election, Mr. Limbaugh avidly stated that he and all the “angry white males” out there were conducting a grass roots anti-Obama election campaign called “Operation Chaos.” Its purported purpose was to get a “less electable” Barack Obama the nomination. So much for that! But I digress. He also sparked controversy by playing a comedy video about a Democrat named Barack Obama running for President. He also routinely played a video called "Barack The Magic Negro". Now I won’t dignify this man by reciting all the things he’s said and done to alienate people in the black and Gay community. If you want to know more visit Wikipedia for a comprehensive selection. The point I’m making is that Rush Limbaugh and conservative talk show hosts like him make a living instilling hate and fear: they have lots of listeners— Rush has over 12 million daily and 20 million weekly.

Next on my list of things that worry me is the ever present “Old Boy Network.” Sarah Kaip, in an article entitled Women and the “Old Boy” Network, Sums it up thus:

“Monday morning meetings begin with talk about Sunday’s football scores. Men in upper management invite lower level male employees to lunch. Water cooler conversations center on hot rods and drag racing. Do you ever feel like you work amidst the “old boy” network? An “old boy” network has a more formal definition. It’s an exclusive and informal network that links members of a social class or profession in order to provide connections, information, and favors—especially in business or politics. When a boss hires a friend of a friend, that person was hired through the “old boy” network. When a man gets a promotion because his friends are on the committee that decides promotions, he is arguably the beneficiary of “old boy” networking.”

The “Old Boy” network is a danger to any economic stimulus plan simply because the monies from said plan would most certainly not filter down to people of color. Even worse, this means that any such plan would only serve to stimulate the kind of "hiden racism" that has kept black folk down; even to this very day.

I’m also concerned about the mindset of the “angry white males”. You know, “Joe Six-pack”, “Joe the Plumber”, “Joe Bag of Donuts”, etc. These are the men that were captivated by Sarah Palin: a gun-toting, hunting, fishing, boisterous, hockey-mom with almost no understanding of world geography or politics. These are also the very same men that are now buying guns in droves. Can black folk have true justice and live in peace with this type of “thinking”?

Finally there is the Religious Right. And this is where Rick Warren fits in, but not because of what he’s saying at the inauguration, but because of what he and others like him are doing. Note what Theocracy Watch had to say:

“One way to understand the Religious Right is to look at the kinds of legislation their lawmakers sponsor. In the U.S. Congress and in state legislatures, bills are proposed that are anti-women, anti-labor, and anti-civil rights. Their legislation opposes finance campaign reform; environmental protection; gun control; social justice for the poor; public education; teaching evolution; human sexuality; and a separation of church and state.”

More importantly, these folks are in cahoots with our politicians to change and or make political policy—that affects you. Using their large congregations, media access, and tax exempt status they have the funding and follower ship to influence politicians to endorse their political agendas.

So no, I’m not a bit concerned that Rick Warren is praying at Barack Obama's Inauguration and you shouldn't’t be either. We have more important things to worry about.