On any given day, you can see residents complaining and bashing Bay City and Matagorda County on social media.
And while there are several toxic group outlets on Facebook, Tiktok, or Snapchat – it’s all just one big mess!
People post everything from scathing restaurant reviews and complaints to unfounded rumors, requests for help and even selling items.
Honestly, I’ve given up trying to correct anyone or delving too deep into a post with more than 30 cascading comments to it.
You’ll get to read replies by the absolute barnacles of our area and their unbridled rudeness to even the most innocent of questions along with those few silver-lining sort of folks that are genuinely trying to help someone else.
Lately, there’s been a rash of so-called “journalists” wanting to share the “truth” without even doing proper research!
These folks are pathetically misinformed and skewing their “investigative journalist” presentations as fact to provide some warped bit of “free speech” to help fellow residents be aware of things possibly happening in their backyard.
Then they ask for subscribers or other social media clicks to make money off of their audience while trying to keep themselves as relevant as possible.
When I took Media Law in college, I was repeatedly warned to be careful of how I phrased and framed information.
My professor was merciless when he reviewed our work and made sure we only presented the facts and provided attribution to the organization or person that provided us with the information – “anonymous” sources weren’t allowed!
We had to establish clear lines of data and present only the facts, figures and details of a topic to let the readers establish their own opinion.
Opinion pieces, like my columns or letters to the editor, have a designated placement and are the only place where a journalist can be subjective.
In the lawless wilds of Facebook groups, I’m coming across unfiltered nonsense, wild accusations, and watch these so-called journalists create chaos and havoc across the board.
And it’s insane to me, because I know that slander, defamation and outright lies are not part of how ‘free speech’ works either.
The most common categories of unprotected speech include obscenity, child pornography, defamatory speech, false advertising, true threats, and fighting words.
Like anyone else, there is a choice to make posts, and comments and put them out there in the public.
But, when someone is essentially burning your effigy in the public digital blogosphere – I firmly believe that you have every right to protect yourself, your family, and your livelihood.
That being said, there’s nothing I hate more than outright malicious and willfully ignorant individuals airing their disgusting presences online and in person – the quintessential troll archetypes.
They’re loud, rude, obnoxious, inept, and more than willing to drag a person down to their level because misery loves company.
Let me just remind you: “Don’t feed the trolls” is a great motto to remember.
After all, that phrase essentially means that you need to ignore people who make inflammatory or provocative posts online to provoke a reaction since giving them the attention they want only fuels their disruptive behavior!
A friend and fellow newspaper journalist reminded me that rural newsrooms are disappearing and we’re holding the line for accountability, integrity and are tasked with separating fact from fiction.
These solo “investigative journalists” that can’t even Google where the city’s meeting agendas are posted or know the Texas Open Meetings Act law certainly don’t deserve the credibility they’re manufacturing with a dinky smartphone and half-baked conspiracy theories.
Don’t give in to their madness – it isn’t about the truth, it’s all for the sake of their ego and alleged entertainment value.