This is not a political blog. It may be irritatingly opinionated, annoyingly smug, depressingly backward-looking and insufferably pompous but it isn\u2019t political. So, apologies for using a political issue as the framework for what follows.<\/p>\n
In the great \u2018What did you do in the Brexit war, Daddy?\u2019 discussion I will be able to say I was a proud remainer. It doesn\u2019t really matter why \u2013 or rather it does but this isn\u2019t the time or the place for that.<\/p>\n
I suspect by far the majority of adland is in the same camp. I once saw a piece suggesting that over 90% of us metropolitan, elitist, workshy, black T-shirt wearing, shallow snowflakes favoured remaining in the EU.<\/p>\n
One who is definitely not in this majority is the futurologist Tracey Follows. I have met Tracey, and on the basis of a couple of short conversations I thought she was great. Tracey is a committed and articulate leaver.<\/p>\n
Last week on Twitter we had an interesting exchange.<\/p>\n
The nub of it was that Tracey says she gets mails from leavers in adland thanking her for standing up for what they believe in and making their case so well.<\/p>\n
This got me wondering why these people don\u2019t feel able to make their own case. Tracey maintains that they\u2019re worried about losing out on promotion or jobs as a result of their opinions. They\u2019re more comfortable keeping their views to themselves.<\/p>\n
If that\u2019s the case (and I have no reason to think it isn\u2019t) then it\u2019s disgraceful, even discriminatory. Why should anyone\u2019s private views on what is a divisive issue make any difference to his or her suitability for a job?<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s an unpleasant parallel issue stopping debate in social media (and I\u2019m not now talking specifically about Brexit): fear of being attacked in public.<\/p>\n
Engaging on Twitter feels a bit like going to a Gary Vaynerchuck event, knowing that you think he\u2019s talking rubbish on something you happen to know about, but not being prepared to grab the microphone and take him on in public whilst surrounded by his adoring admirers.<\/p>\n
The great theory behind social media platforms is that they provide an opportunity for debate and discussion. But somewhere along the way they\u2019ve become toxic \u2013 a place where far too often if you don\u2019t agree with a particular opinion you\u2019re opening yourself to abuse, threats and worse from those on the other side of any debate. Like I imagine many others I\u2019ve personally experienced this myself and it\u2019s not much fun.<\/p>\n
Mass media forms have always contained some limited debate and discussion. Newspapers have letters pages; TV and radio have feedback shows; but of course these are as nothing compared with the scale and ferocity of SM.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just scale. To write a letter takes time and some trouble. You get the chance to think about why you disagree with the other party. And letters are edited.<\/p>\n
SM is a knee-jerk medium; I read something; I disagree; I hate; I threaten; I move on. All in a matter of seconds.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s ludicrous that the SM platforms are not subject to regulation and thus feel no urgent need to do anything beyond the basic.<\/p>\n