Rumors, anger, hate and dialog

[Christian Rivers]

Web communities are relatively new social entities. They have the reach of world wide media but the intimacy of telephone conversations. This intimacy lends itself to informality which in turns leads to less inhibition in expression. This less inhibition can slip into disinhibition which can then spiral destructively out of reasonable boundaries. When presented with a potential threat the individual may act out irrationally and in turn trigger others to act out. A well known analogy would be yelling ?fire? in a theater.
We can manage the risk of disinhibition and panic by 1) reminding individuals of their responsibilities as members of the group and 2) providing a means of communicating their concerns so that they can see a effective response {risk communications ? discussed in other posts]. The first strategy the leadership of flutrackers.com has exercised well. The second is more challenging because it is outside the control of flutrackers.com. As a group I think we need to learn how we can communicate legitimate concerns to authorities and observe a responsible response. In some ways, maybe the forum can take comfort in the successful campaign by Dr. Niman to get the H5N1 sequences released.

Sometimes what may start out as acute anxiety as it persists becomes transformed into smoldering or even boiling anger. This anger may manifest with suspicions expressed towards authorities, accusations of malfeasance, or even outright desires to see harm (punishment) done the perceived offenders. These individuals are either searching within a group for like minded comrades, or may challenge some of the group administrators of members as surrogate targets for authorities. In either case, their intrusiveness or ranting has an overall destructive impact on the group and they have to be curtailed. Hopefully appeal to their sense of overall mission can help them put aside their anger so that they can participate constructively.

Sadly, some individuals start out consumed with hatred for some entity and will use groups as soil for their seeds of hatred. These folks may present initially as responsible caring members, but unfortunately, since their true mission is hatred, they wait in the wings for a crisis and then use the crisis to act out their goal of destruction or violence. These folks have to be challenged early and strongly on their value system. Once their agenda is clear, they need to be identified and isolated from the group. At some later point, they may reach a crisis in their world view and at that time become open to sincere dialog and problem solving.

Christian Rivers (Joe Thornton)

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: Rumors, anger, hate and dialog

Again sincere thanks Christian Rivers.

Please allow me to request your expertise in the following matters.

We have been, since few months, amidst a kind of war of values, principles and priorities among different forums.

Having been working for some years in some cases with what I have consider as collegues, I am witnessing a rise of schism among us that has worked very hard to raise awareness, prompt preparedness and share informations on how to cope with major stress and problems since many years.

Honestly, I am quite surprise of this harsh wars of forums.

I try to find some positive aspects to this, but I have real problems to find some.

I have been deeply involve in Interfaith Gathering for Peace, and what would be consider almost impossible have been achieved.

We have managed to get; Rabbis, Imans, Granthis, Monks, Priests, Reverend, Brahmins, animists, etc.. to gathered together in the same place to pray for peace, despite all sensitivities and culturals differences.

What would be the common denominator for all the people who are working very hard, in most of cases, for the common well being in the face of a collective difficult time ??

Again thank you for your precision, pertinence and sensivity.

Sincerely,
Snowy Owl

 

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: Rumors, anger, hate and dialog

A very interesting read Christian. I wonder if older adults will be less inclined to abuse the medium? Time really does add some wisdom. But, those whose lives revolve around the internet are a different kind of person I believe. More inclined to both a willingness to embrace change and more likely to be socially isolated. This implies a person who is not like his fellows, perhaps because they were anti-social to begin with, or unable to find others who are like-minded. I believe that many may be gifted and unable to find others with whom they feel comfortable communicating. So, there may be many reasons why there are personality clashes between forums. One forum may value free speech as the most important tenant regardless of the antognism it breeds. Another will devote itself to finding solutions. A third feeds on the adrenalin of hyperbole. Others may be swept up with the single-minded purpose of throwing a monkey wrench into the mix because they cannot deal with the painful and horrific possibilities. Time re-sorts the participants into like-minded cliques. There will be some shuffling between forums and some may belong to several.

I wish I was the kind of writer who could persuade all people that our eyes need to be focused on the virus. The best we/I can do here at FT is to be steadfast in our mission to alleviate as much suffering and death as we possibly can. No hysteria, hopelessness, hearsay, or hate instead, we should be heralds, high-minded, homogeneous and heroic. And that is exactly what we are.

 

[Mingus]

Re: Rumors, anger, hate and dialog

I'm speechless but I do apreciate this reflexion.
We clearly are in a time where reflexive way to see thing is needed.
Good wisdom JT

 

[Christian Rivers]

Re: Rumors, anger, hate and dialog

Thank you all for your kind words. I will be silent for a while after this post on this topic to ensure that I maintain a healthy distance from my words and stay close to the thoughts.

If I understand correctly the question from Snowy is ?Can we find a common denominator for all those who are preparing to find pandemic flu, much the same way we have found a common denominator for peace among world religions??

And from Shannon ? there is most likely a need for diversity among groups, but with flutrackers.com can we promote the tone for the common good and dignity of all?

Given that both comments come today, along with the plea on another thread for positive tone among pandemic flu forums, I will assume there is a current bitter controversy on at least one of the other sites.

Flutrackers.com is a public health forum dedicated to help decrease the morbidity and mortality in a possible H5N1 pandemic. The forum respects all countries, cultures, religions, and peoples .

The basic ground rules laid out here allow plenty of room for ideas, discussion and most important: constructive, critical questions on reported data.

Frequent reference to the above, mission, vision and values statement is very helpful to reinforce the identity and behavior of the participants in the forum and helps to set at least one standard in the community of forums. We can draw in many forums to a common value & vision set by our appeal to resiliency. Resiliency has 12 key components which include altruism, spirituality, endurance, optimism, discipline, cognitive flexibility, mentoring, adaptability, acceptance, moral compass, social support and humor (list from Steven Southwick, M.D. of Yale University).

A more troubling challenge will be what I call the Darwinian group. This could be a group whose members are most interested in their own individual survival and they are trying to link up with the winning team. I do not have a good idea at the moment for meeting them directly. My preferred strategy is to continue the use of positive expectations. Recall the thread on subliminal messages last week. You can also demonstrate an impact with direct, clear messages such as the mission, vision and values of flutrackers.com Reinforce that message by walking the talk and the impact is powerful.
CR