Reimer's Campaign a Net Gain for Social Networks

I may be a business owner, but I'm still human. And the immediacy (and relative anonymity) of social media can make it easy for a quick thought, an "I thought it was funny at the time," or a heated retort to slip from your fingers. But that's not what adults do. And, hopefully thanks in part to a great campaign by April Reimer, kids of all ages will learn to think before Tweeting.

Look, we have a few Habs' fans at Echidna, including myself, but the colour of our jerseys don't blind us to the fact that wrong is wrong. Last year, April Reimer, the wife of the Leafs' goaltender James, received a litany of downright offensive Tweets. Some went as far as texting and calling her, making threats, and behaving in ways that no right-thinking person should ever behave.

First, she's a human. We don't treat humans like that. Second, it's just hockey.

So she decided to do something about it. And #tweetsweet was formed. A campaign to challenge students to spread positive messages through online social networks and combat cyberbullying. Basically, you say something nice about someone on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, attach the #tweetsweet hashtag, and you could win tickets to see the Leafs play.

It's a great start, but it's not going to be easy. As businesses, business owners, employees, and just basic decent human beings, we can help not only by participating, but by being the example.

There are a lot of keyboard cowboys out there who use the degree of separation provided by the Internet to embolden their courage. They make statements through the safety of the world wide web that they would never make in person.

Add in the opportunity to post anonymously and the obnoxiousness factor multiplies exponentially.

We can play armchair psychologist to our heart's content and apply justifications for this behaviour. We already know that those who have been bullied or have been made to feel inferior can become the worst perpetrators of bullying in another form.

And the Internet can let you be whomever you want to be.

We believe in being ourselves. Whether it's on our private accounts or business accounts, we stand behind all of our posts and comments. By thinking first about the impact of the statement -- not just on the person to whom you're making it, but on how it will reflect about you -- you can minimize those "I shouldn't have said that" moments. There's no time limit on the "send" or "post" button -- so taking a few seconds to reflect can make all the difference.

Saying something and then deleting it isn't the same as not saying it at all. We'd rather do the latter.

You can have opinions, you can criticize ideas, and you can even think that the Leafs are the worst team in the world. But there's a line you don't cross. The way you express yourself can either encourage respectable conversation and fun, or it can demean, shut down, and mock others. I know which one I'd rather employ.

April's campaign is designed to show that social networks can be a positive influence. And we're all for that. And though attending a Leafs' game may not exactly be this Habs' fan's view of a prize (unless it's tickets to the April 11th game when the Canadiens will rock the ACC!), I'm happy to support this cause.