Social Media as Slander? - October 28
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]; Ecclus. 28:14-26; Rev. 12:1-6; Luke 11:37-52
A college friend of mine ended up living nearby when I was in seminary. Jim would often come over in the evenings to sit on the apartment patio and “philosophize” and catch up. Most conversations included a cigar. Jim loved to argue about the meaning of life, existence, the universe, politics, sports, and just about anything you could imagine. No topic was left unturned. And it wasn’t about being right, just an exploration of the human mind. Feelings were never hurt. And we had a whole lot of fun as we solved all the problems of the world.
Actually, no problems were solved, but it did deepen our friendship and we still check in periodically to this day. I was thinking of Jim as I have been wrestling with trying to understand the great experiment of social media. When Facebook came out, people joined to connect with friends and share pictures. As time passed, people became connected to more and more people as their experiences in life deepened. At the same time, the way we engaged in learning, the consumption of news and information moved from books and television to the palms of our hands and the phones in our pockets.
Think about how different the world is from ten years ago. Ten years ago, we would debate ideas with a friend over a cigar on a patio. Today, we share an opinion piece, a meme, a news story, or an idea with 2,000 of our friends online in an effort to make some kind of point that either helps us feel better about where we have arrived, or is an effort to shape our online identity or presence. I wonder if we think we are having a personal conversation with a few of our friends that would be much more appropriate for patio debates.
The Old Testament lessons this week are taken from Ecclesiasticus, also known as the Wisdom of Sirach, one of the handful of times we hear lessons from the Apocrypha. It is a Jewish book of ethical teachings and today’s readings focus is on the power of slander. Listen to this portion of chapter 28 – “Slander has shaken many and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities and overturned the houses of great” (28:14-15). Later, the author reminds us that “many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue” (28:18). I am left wondering is a social media account the modern-day tongue? Could it be, that when we share news, or opinions, or ideas in such a vast, large, and irresponsible way that what we are really engaged in is slander?
Maybe I am being a little extreme, but the author further says, “Happy is one who is protected from it, who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke, and has not been bound with its fetters” (28:19). I guess the irony is, I am writing this in order to share with our Daily Reflection email list and then share the reflection on social media. But if it helps us to “take care not to err with your tongue, and fall victim to one lying in wait” (28:26) then we will all be better for it.
And the irony of this all is I am writing this with the purpose of sharing on social media. Maybe some good can come?
- John+
Questions for Self-Reflection: How have debates or challenging questions helped you to grow? Do you have friends like Jim who help you to explore new ideas?
Daily Challenge: Consider today the weight of words. Make a plan to reduce what could be considered as slander from your own practice of communication.