"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Wednesday 21 October 2015

GUEST POST COMMENT FROM CHRISTOPHER WATTS

"Instinct suggests the irreverent social media had much to do with the outcome."

The 2011 was touted at Canada's first social media election. Here's the G&M's take:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadas-first-social-media-election-is-on-but-will-people-vote/article574263/

With the second all wrapped up here is Facebook's Head of Public Policy Kevin Chan's summary of traffic on their network and how it breaks down: 
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/election/tracking-elxn42-on-social-media-voters-engage-during-long-campaign-1.2616457

Here's an October 18th CBC piece on "Social media's significance oversold amid election hype": http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-social-media-1.3277007

One conclusion that arrived at is "Social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook are designed to connect people to each other. They are about two-way conversations. But politicians tend to be much more comfortable using them to pump out one-way messages than engage in genuine dialogue."

One shared by this digital journal piece:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/internet/how-social-media-influences-the-2015-canadian-election/article/447001

"judging by the feeds of the Canadian parties, whether on Facebook or Twitter, social media isn't being used to its best abilities: more often than not, the Libs, New Democrats and Tories are using social networks to bullhorn their platform messages and promote policy, instead of having that conversation the medium could engender. Sure, Trudeau had a live Q&A via Facebook, but it's a rare bright spot in a grey desert of social engagement."

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I was thinking of the exchange between unabashed,unreserved and ferociously irreverent youthful element  I thought I detected on Facebook.

The U-tube of Joe Oliver on fAcebook on Election Day went on and on, taking the P?M. apart with the force of humor,was the penultimate.

No holds were barred. Nasty Conservative ads were blown out of the water by stuff that could never otherwise have seen the light of day. 

All of it directed at the conservative leader. Deservedly so. 

Pit was involvement by a generation never before  politically active and doing it their way. 

The target was defined.,

Justin can just as easily become the focus now the surfers have found their balance. 

Political philosophy has little to do with it. 

A wild and unruly generation is mad as hell and not prepared to take it any more. 

They' re not hanging out of a window shouting their rage into the night.

They're doing it on Facebook and encouraging  each other. 

Today's  politicians will have to get real. 

A Tiger was unleashed in yesterday's election. It will not be easily coaxed back into the box. 

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am glad you saw the Oliver segment - did not want to risk offending someone by commenting on your Blog.

Anonymous said...

Boy, was Mr Somerville ever wrong in his predictions this time ! This one goes in his clanger column but at least he gives
it a shot.

Anonymous said...

We are much better than the Americans who seem to be set on a path of self-destruction of their own candidates

Anonymous said...

22:55 - And we're not too far behind them.