
I knew something bad had happened because I began seeing a lot of “prayers for Oklahoma” updates in my Facebook feed.
I hopped over to Twitter to see what was happening there.
As usual, I was greeted with disappointment – like I am every time a disaster strikes.
I found the normal array of post-disaster grumblings and finger-pointings. A lack of grace.
People slamming other people for letting scheduled tweets slip through the cracks.
People condemning others for talking as if there is nothing happening in {insert disaster city here].
Can we please stop that?
I don’t care if you are the most perfect Social Media Guru, Maven, Ninja, or Douchebag that walks the planet. Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has business commitments. Everybody does not REALIZE at the second YOU do (news flash: not everyone spends their whole day on Twitter) that there may be a disaster happening.
I’ve said this before about moms judging other moms: that we need to give each other the benefit of the doubt.
Why can’t bloggers and social media peeps give each other the benefit of the doubt, too?
Sally Smith is not a horrible person if she wasn’t at her computer THIS second to stop a scheduled tweet about a sponsored post. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was unplugged and at her kid’s dance lesson or soccer practice.
Jane Jones is not a horrible person if she wants to chat on Twitter with someone about her kid’s potty training. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she’s got a big issue on her hands right now.
Mary Roberts is not a horrible person if she doesn’t make a statement about how her prayers go out to those affected in {insert disaster city here} and instead posts a funny update of something that happened at her office. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she deals with tragedy differently than you.
I’ve grown so weary of the finger-pointing, the condescension, the collective lack of ability to try for one second to put ourselves in another person’s shoes. It makes me wonder if it’s all just attention-seeking, really.
Just worry about yourself, people – and the people you feign to be so concerned for in {insert disaster city here}. I’m certain that nobody in that city gives a rat’s ass about who didn’t cancel their scheduled tweets or who’s making jokes on Facebook.
And neither should you.
Because social media needs grace, too.
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