This is a completely self-serving column. I am attempting to give myself advice to follow. If any reader chooses to follow my advice as well- then great.
The newspaper has several social media accounts and I have a personal one, but I almost never post on my personal account and I do not post on the newspaper accounts very often either (Other newspaper employees carry out most of the postings). Yet, at times I may get stirred on by certain news events and waste 30 to 40 minutes in a day reading what others have posted and then responding to those posts.
The reasons I need to stay away from social media is that I wish to keep my world view that most people are "genuinely decent" in tact. Also, spending precious time on social media is a huge waste of my time, and my comments on the sites are not going to help the world or anyone in it most likely.
Most people when I meet them face to face seem like decent people. Yet, these same people will post the most heartless things on social media and try as I might to listen to the "better angels" in my head I respond anyways. Usually, I respond with a question on how can you say these things or believe that craziness. Most persons respond back ready to have a war of words in which no one will win since it is just words on a screen and not real human contact.
Most individuals usually respond with something akin to vile since they are in a bubble and not realizing they are actually talking to another human being and not the computer screen.
Months ago I added a bunch of time back into my life since I deleted all the social media apps off my phone. It was a good decision and a blessing.
I am more incline to hear out Eli on his wild adventures since no phone to check social media. The time I saved before my most recent relapse back into social media checking is probably countless.
While I may have relapsed, I am writing this column so it shall not relapse again and will leave the social media postings up to the staff.
I will compliment one of the Winston County Journal's twitter followers who rather than arguing with me made me prove every word in my statement. I now see this as a better approach to people rather than arguing with them get them to cite their sources for the information.
Editor’s note: Joseph McCain is the Publisher of the Choctaw Plaindealer, Webster Progress Times and Winston County Journal. He is married to Hanna McCain and they have 2 children, Eli, 6 and Hub, 2.
He maybe reached at newsroom@winstoncountyjournal.com or 662-803-5236.
The Choctaw Plaindealer’s Issues and Ideas page provides an open forum for the public to exchange ideas and opinions. Letters are to be 500 words or less, MUST be signed, and contain an address and phone number for verification (phone numbers will NOT be published). The Choctaw Plaindealer reserves the right to refuse or edit any submitted material. yet, usually we print ALL signed letters.
