Sharing Opinions in Social Media

Everyone's heard the saying "opinions are like...heads...everybody has one," perhaps "heads" was not the word used, but you get the point!

Opinions run rampant in conversation, and it's true, everybody has an opinion on a topic, from the frivolous to the serious. Our ideas on these topics are shaped by our upbringing, our environment, and our education. Few know how to share their opinions intelligently, but everyone wants to be heard.

Ultimately, social media has been a way to share our opinions with a wide audience and receive feedback that deepens and enriches the conversation.

Opinions that Encourage Participation

Whether you manage a blog, a vlog, an online periodical, or any other written or visual piece online, you are putting yourself into your work. Especially with the launching of citizen journalism thanks to the social media tools that have been created to facilitate this movement, opinions are being shared at a much more rapid pace than ever before.

The positive side to this, ideas that would have otherwise stayed in their local environment are being shared worldwide providing us with a broader vision of what is going on in the world. In times like these where we are globally connected, we truly realize that we are not alone.

The healthy sharing of opinions can instantly create an amazing dialog within the community. The idea of exchanging ideas allows people to share their input and push the boundaries of our localized thoughts to include a much wider audience. I have personally been a part of healthy discussions on religion, business ideas, the economy, and politics. With educated discussion backed with strong examples, I am taking seriously, looked at with respect, and listened to with an open mind when I share my opinions.

The Dark Side

Unfortunately discussion does not always favor the positive. There is always a dark side to just about anything. I have always stressed as a consultant that social media tools can help just as much as they can harm. Too often the online world can be filled with ignorance, half truths, and unsupported discussion that leads to hostile communities, untrusting users, and even harm in real life.

I've never been one to think that all opinions are good ones, and as a supporter of free speech, I do feel like everyone is entitled to share their ideas, but there is a wrong way and a right way to share. To spread unfounded rumors and misinformation only serves to harm and anger people both online and in the real world. As a blogger, reporter, writer, or videographer, you are tasked with the responsibility to add to the overall health of the community not detract from it.

Nevertheless there are far too many who simply bring the value of great social tools down, and it is them that the vast majority of users will turn them back on. My mentor has a saying that "if you are not adding to my life, I am subtracting you from it." I believe this to be true, and have implemented it more than once in my life.

Word to the wise, if you plan on sharing your thoughts online, do so constructively and with an open mind to hear how others might interpret the idea. By closing yourself off, you've closed yourself off to growth, and where do we go if we do not grow?

Photo Credit Daniel F. Pigatto

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