Last year Jon Acuff, wrote an article for Relevant Magazine, entitled, “7 Questions to Ask Before You Throw Down Online”.  Each of these are worth exploring in the context of purposed worKING and how we handle ourselves in the workplace and online.

“For she cares nothing about the path to life.She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.”

Social media loves to invite a fight.  By nature of trying to get someone’s attention in a short message, social media experts have learned that by provoking conversation, debate, or an argument is the best way to get something shared and commented upon.  So, we read some pretty inflammatory or argumentative statement and topics on social media.  But do we have to engage?  Do we want to and if we do, for what purpose?  Do we even care? I can’t argue with using controversy to attract attention, but after the attraction has happened, then we have to make a choice in how we respond.  I know someone who is trying to use his influence and organization to reform campaign finance laws.  He has learned that in order to get anyone’s attention on the topic that he has to use words like, “corruption” and “criminal” to describe the actions of politicians.  And those words invite a debate and in some cases a fight online.  I get that no one reads or cares about a dog biting a man but a man biting dog works every time.  But with each post that we make online, let’s consider what the overall tone that we are setting and what effect could come from our cause. So, before we engage, let’s be sure that the topic is something that we care enough about to enter the fray.

How we manage our persona online has just as much effect and impact on others as we do live and in-person, or maybe even more.  I know some great people, faith-filled and God-led people who when they get online they take on a new personality and one that is far from filled with grace, love and mercy.  Controversial topics online are like the back porch light, drawing in all kinds of insects. Those posts and chain emails can be the crooked trail that takes us off the right path. Let’s not be drawn to the wrong light or path, but stay focused on the real things that matter.  We can leave alone the things that we can’t say with strong conviction that we care.  It’s the safer and more mature path.

Reference:  Proverbs 5:6 (New Living Translation)