Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor Mopinions@theotherpress.ca (Y |s weed ‘infinitely worse than tobacco’? Do it for yourself (¥ Taste the rainbow And more! Best to worst communities on social media » Where to post, comment, and get the response you want Elliot Chan Opinions Editor ‘we, SM opinions@theotherpress.ca Ons communities bring people together, and they also tear them apart. So, often we delete accounts, block “friends,” and end up arguing with a troll over something that doesn’t even matter. Social media has become the Wild West, a lawless avenue for people : : endorse one of your skills, : but it’s never the place to get : into any serious debate. It’s a : professional community, and it : demands respect. It does that : effectively by making every : commenter, poster, and even : viewer accountable for his or : her actions. You can’t creep your : ex-girlfriend’s LinkedIn page : without her knowing. Overall, : you are always safe on LinkedIn, : as safe as you would be at a : networking event. to act horribly, and then defend themselves with crude language and bad grammar. In this article, I'll look at my experience with the most popular social networks and examine how we behave when things are at their best and worst. Reddit: There is an organized chaos to Reddit that is beautiful. People who are active on the network govern each other quite effectively. While identity does not ever need to be revealed, the “karma” : Da networking event, Facebook : is a full-blown party. I don’t : need to go into detail about system gives everyone power. It’s democracy at its finest. Every person has the right to : vote up or down a post, link, or : comment. This means bullshit : sinks to the bottom and only : the best is left on top. It’s a great : place to get an honest opinion— : brutally honest—without much : hostility. LinkedIn: Things never : really get bad on LinkedIn, but : it never really gets that great : either. Now and then someone : will write a very thoughtful recommendation for you or Facebook: If LinkedIn is : what Facebook is, but literally : anything can happen when : such a wide variety of emotions : collide. Some people are trying : to impress everyone. Some are : trying to get sympathy. Some : are trying to get others to do something or “like” something. : Yep, it’s a party all right. You'll : be okay on Facebook if you are : genuine. Beware, though. Since : Facebook encompass people : : within your circle, their honesty : : might hurt you in real life. A bit : : of censorship is advised. Twitter: Twitter allows you : to target the rich and famous, as : : well as your own lowly followers, : : and reach out to all of them. : : Twitter is effective, but it has : to be earned. You have to climb : the Twitter ladder. Once you : have power (i.e., a top-notch > Klout score), you need to wield : it responsibly. Failure to do so, : or tweeting 140 characters that : don’t fit others’ points-of-view : will be met with a barrage of : responses. The good stuff is : highlighted, but the bad stuff : will not be ignored on Twitter. YouTube: I don’t know : what it is about videos that : causes people to be such : unsophisticated, racist, sexist, : and offensive assholes. But : they do. If you post a video on : YouTube, it might just end up : being forgotten deep in the Image via The Internet : rabbit hole of user-generated : content, or it’ll go viral and : you'll have to answer for it. : Haters are going to hate, and, : believe me, like how a stagnant : pond in July breeds mosquitoes, : YouTube breeds classless idiots : with little good to say. Considering arguments that differ from your own » Don't write off opposing viewpoints Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer O ur personal views, opinions, and beliefs are an essential part of who we are. Differing viewpoints—whether they are philosophical, political, religious, or just social—divide and cause conflict among humanity. Individuals argue on a personal level and countries argue on a national level, especially politically. What is the best way to help our own citizens? How should we treat immigrants and people from other countries? How much money should we spend on these matters? We continue to debate these issues no matter our position of power, whether we are patrons at a café or politicians on a televised debate. What we fail to recognize is that our personal views are not necessarily the correct ones. There may not even be a subjective “correct” way to run things. Not everyone is an expert on everything they have an opinion about, and views can : change very easily. Sometimes : it only takes one article or : argument to change an opinion, : or at least make someone : consider alternative viewpoints. It’s essential that we listen : to, and perhaps even embrace, : views different from our own. : Inanacademic setting, almost: : every topic is debated. Experts— : : sometimes world-renowned : : and the best in their field— : continue to argue and defend : their beliefs. Psychologists : debate correct areas of human : behaviour. Theologians debate : the history and truth behind : organized religion. Physicists : debate the behaviours of : particles smaller than an : atom. Ultimately, the “correct” : viewpoint may never be found, : and this is also recognized in : academia. Most of the formal : debate is respectful, subjective, : and based on an understanding : of the opposing argument’s : value. New discoveries, : viewpoints, and ideas continue : to be introduced, and affect : human knowledge of many : fields. We all have common goals : and values. Generally, we can : agree that we want to help : the less fortunate in the world : and treat others with respect. : We seek to advance ourselves : and humanity as a whole : through education, stability, : and progress. Our politicians : all want to run Canada as : effectively as possible; they : merely differ on how to do so. : No one is completely correct : in his or her assessment, and : everyone’s beliefs add something : : to the discussion. Not all : Canadians are in agreement on : how things should run, either, : as shown by vote splitting. : However, we all seek progress : anda higher quality of living. Diversity and variety is : represented across the country : through our citizens, cultures, : political processes, religions, : and practices. Seeking one Image via Thinkstock : correct viewpoint and arguing that your personal beliefs are the : “right” ones ignores that reality. : What works for one person may : not for another, What works in : one area may not for another. : Cultures, life experiences, : and circumstances all lead to : division in our views of how the : world works. Why not seek to : embrace other’s experiences and : understand what they see, and : why? It will help us all improve.