Are social networks turning into opinionated soap boxes?
With today’s array of social media networking websites, we are starting to see more and more statements and opinions whether political in nature or not, 
expressed to networks. One can argue that social media is a soapbox for any individual to discuss issues and voice free speech and hear others opinions on what is being voiced. I have seen this happening on many sites and there are areas that are used for these purposes on most social websites. Case in point, when I first started my Linkedin Troops Support networking group, I merely posted this group as a question on Linkedin and let others answer if they had interests in a group of this sort. I received such a backlash of responses and almost hate mail because I was siding with Bush’s policies on the war, that I was forced to remove the question from Linkedin. I learned from that experience that maybe I should choose where to ask such questions or even advertise a group that stirs up strong feelings in people. This isn’t to say I was cowering to political opinion because I feared the repercussions, but only that maybe this wasn’t the correct place to post such a question or opinion?
As networks increase and people utilize social media in different ways and for different reasons, virtual forums are places you will start seeing this occurring. Most apparent on places that allow you to post to live feeds or questions that broadcast to your networks. What is not apparent to many people and I have discussed this before is that many of these feeds and forums broadcast to a farther reach then anyone thinks about. Take Facebook for example, the Live Feed on Facebook front page broadcasts to everyone in your network and even people outside your network to include other people in your networks connections. So what you are doing is expressing an opinion that can be seen by everyone. Now I have no problem with people expressing their opinions and this is on some sites the reason they were started. I do think that there are websites that are better venues and groups to discuss this and not receive the backlash of a hundred opinions criss crossing back and forth for all to see. Many do not realize that once you say it, it is out there for all to question and it is very difficult to recover.
So the question remains, do we utilize social media to air an opinion and converse openly no matter how different our opinions may be? Well I think it matters where these opinions are being posted. I think in the right place and in the right venue, it is a great way to start a debate and increase discussions. But that being said, I think it has to be in the right place. I see it all the time, arguments being conducted back and forth on peoples Facebook walls over a fiery debate over the war in Iraq or Healthcare etc. Once it is posted to the walls it is free game for all to see and contribute. I totally disagree that this is the fashion to conduct these sorts of debates. If you choose to turn your social network into a political soap box, you may want to take it offline. Your network can be easily turned off to your opinions and may not agree and in turn can remove themselves from your connections.
I think this is an argument that people would agree and disagree on since many would argue there is a free speech aspect to social networking. I agree with free speech and think in a large part, this is correct but my argument is not with free speech in social networking. My argument is with using the right social network to express opinions. Do we turn business and personal social networks into forums to go back and forth on issues? Does this start conversations or cause an uproar in a network? Do you lose connections by sparking opinions in your network? These are the questions one must ask if they are going to start these discussions. Not sure this will ever be answered but could be a concern as social media populations grow.
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