As I’ve blogged, and as I’ve made use of social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, over the years, I’ve found it necessary to adopt certain philosophies and policies, in order to protect my audience, as well as myself, from spam, heckling, harassment, negativity, and every other issue one can stumble across in their online experiences. As you, my audience, click through my material, be it on Twitter, Facebook, or right here on ProliferateTruth.Net, I would like you to keep these policies in mind.
NOTE: These policies will be subject to future change and modification, at my own personal discretion.
The Foundation of my Philosophy and Policies
My policies are grounded in what has been termed, "The Golden Rule:" "Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" – Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:12, KJ2000, CadreBible)." Or, to simplify it in the vernacular, "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you."
Consideration of others, a thing which is a two-way street in all relationships, is core to what I want to do in my social networking ministry. Therefore, to maintain this philosophy, and to protect both my readers as well as myself from the pitfalls of social media use, I have adopted the following policies:
1: I reserve the right to restrict or prohibit access to my materials, by any user, at any time, and for any length of time. If those accessing my material are unable to show restraint, deference, or consideration to others or to me personally, then they must earn the privilege of having access to that material in the future.
2: My social media will not be a replacement for direct, face-to-face interaction. Social media are tools, not a replacement, for interpersonal relationships. I will not allow social media to adversely effect those relationships.
3: Finally, those in my online social network should not take it personally when I should choose to exercise the options mentioned above. Again, my emphasis will be in the cultivation of real-life relationships, as opposed to shallow, limited, and limiting, online interactions.
There are several possible responses to undesirable online interactions – one can choose to Hide, Mute, Unfriend, Unfollow, Block, Restrict, Report, Mark as Spam, or simply IGNORE those with whom he does not desire to interact online. You, my reader, may choose to do any or all of the above with my material, at any given point in time. And I will reserve the right to do the same.
This clarification of my online social policy is not meant to be offensive to anyone who should choose to view my materials online. It is merely meant to serve as a challenge to my audience to show restraint and consideration in ALL of their online interactions.
Thank you all for taking the time to review these policies. Together, let’s all make cyberspace a better place.
PROLIFERATE TRUTH.
