Now, if you think this blog post is a case of ‘online dick waving’ then you’re free to go. But, stick with it as there’s important lessons to learn.
It all took a turn for the super scary, when I was unwittingly endorsed by Katie Hopkins, who is an endless cause of divisive highly polarised opinion:
Well, I say super scary as I was not prepared for how powerful the online word is. Especially, over the medium of Twitter. Yes, I’m aware of how retweeting works and how things spread; but at the very most I’ve had something like, I dunno….several retweets for something? About 10 – 15 retweets tops when people have deemed something I typed to be that funny?
This sounds like a naive thing to say, but I wasn’t prepared for what happened.
It got to the stage where there was 10 or 15 retweets, then it snowballed to bigger and bigger proportions. Then, as soon as Katie Hopkins retweeted the thing it exploded with the 'RT' and 'Like' quota spiralling ever higher to the point where ‘the internet’ wouldn't shut up. For the most part, the replies were positive and a sudden spike in followers occurred. Along the way, there was the usual piss-ant replies random yahoo’s, a lecture from some old dear about swearing on the internet, and a ‘drive by blocking’ where I didn't even get a chance for a witty retort.
The question is: Has your life changed due to being retweeted by a celebrity?
Answer: Nope.
Literally, five minutes of internet fame for what a few people have told me online as “One of the biggest online smack downs I’ve seen in living memory...”, “Bellendosity is the best word I've ever seen in my life!” to the simple “You win at Internet!”. As far as I'm aware anyway.
Here’s the serious part:
We’re becoming more entrenched with the online world and sharing our thoughts about anything, and people of a certain age (like me) wish for simpler times as we basically think the internet is the ruination of the world; that affects social interaction and isolates people more than breaks down barriers. Rather than the plus sides of spreading free, unbiased information and unifying the populous as a collective whole, shrinking the world and smashing down boundaries. I've seen kids that can’t even function without online interaction and are poor communicators. Notably, as Saturday staff that my missus has took on to work in retail as the best example. They stumble, form broken words and despite the power of the Internet has reduced their social skills.
My original reason for speaking out against this person who was wanting Katie Hopkins to be booted off Twitter forever, is that I defend free speech. I defend people’s identity online, whether they just to be who they are, semi, anonymous, or fully anonymous; Twitter provides a very powerful platform of free information for all with no bias.
I don’t believe in an Orwellian ‘thought police’ world where people aren't allowed to express views online. People have good reasons for being anonymous, semi anonymous, or just being precisely who they are and that is entirely down to how comfortable they are with their online presence and the consequences. Obviously, there are blatant trolls hiding behind an online veil and I don’t consider them to be excused – but one person’s troll may be a speaker of truth.
I don’t believe in being frogmarched into using your actual identity online, which should be down to that person’s choice. There may be people under witness protection, living in a place where they could face imprisonment for a simple innocuous tweet, or in sensitive job positions (however, there is an element of common sense and decorum). Social networking is a way of distributing free news and information, that is otherwise conveniently brushed under the carpet and whitewashed by the media moguls that control it. Does this sound ‘tin foil’ hat? Well, have a good look at North Korea – a country shit scared to do anything that is brainwashed, and look at how Turkey attempted to block Twitter and the recent protests marches in the UK the news channels appeared to conveniently forget about.
I've been on the Internet for 15 years, and I have to say I don’t find many things shocking any more. I speak in a forthright and perhaps overly blunt manner that is equally admired and despised, but at least I'm honest. I've had accusations of keeping bad company online but I've had the foresight and ability to read through the lines and see that they’re good people. I’ve seen it all on here, moderated forums, dealt with idiots, and called bullshit on idiots. I'm the same in person, but obviously you can tell by body language and intonation when I'm being serious or taking the piss – which is something that is lost in translation online unless you put a smiley emoticon, 'TongueInCheek' or 'Obvious Sarcasm' hashtag. Moreover, I'm not going to change how I operate any time soon – and neither should you. Lastly, think long and hard before you react to something you see online. Often, ignoring something sends a more powerful message than reacting to it – because there’s people that fish for a reaction (I wholly admit to it, for shits and giggles too when I'm feeling mischievous). If you don’t like it, then don’t read it, as nobody forced you to view it. The same can be applied to the TV, or the radio.
If you've never read it or watched it, check out George Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty Four', as you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a ‘how to’ manual rather than a piece of fiction.
If we’re not careful, that world could become even more of a reality.
