Veterans of the local political circles say they’re fatigued by the spread of misinformation on social media, as well as the attacks.
Judy Shantz, the recently retired former clerk for the municipality, said she’s seen the vitriol on social media grow like a weed over the past eight years or so.
“I try not to believe everything I read on social media,” she said.
But Shantz said some of the attacks can leave scars.
“Saying no to a deputation and reading about it later on social media. I saw where the comments were going after the clerk. There’s a person behind there. We’re people to,” she said, adding municipal staff truly care about Chatham-Kent. “We live in this community and we’re passionate. We think we’re doing the best job we can, and for people to be on social media and putting down staff, they truly don’t know what our rules are and who we are as people. I just find we’re maybe just easy targets when you’re behind a keyboard.”
Marjorie Crew, a veteran of 16 years on council who was recently defeated in Ward 7, wonders if her decision to hold social media at arms’ length cost her in the long run.
“Maybe that was part of my downfall. I didn’t engage a lot on social media throughout my campaign period,” she said. “But on that, it didn’t matter what you said, Somebody would twist it. It is absolutely the worst.”
Just perusing various Facebook groups can take a toll.
“I watched some very respectful people say how they felt about something and getting gutted for their opinion. Anytime you engaged, it took a piece of you,” Crew said. “The keyboard warriors feel they can say whatever hurtful thing they want without any consequence. At the end of the day, the person you’re attacking has family, friends and you’re harming them just as much as you are the person you are attacking.”
She respects the ability to agree to disagree.
“It’s OK to have a difference of opinion. But be respectful,” she said. “You don’t have to be mean to get things done.”
Mayor-elect Michael Bondy said social media has its place, but it can cut like a knife. He experienced a great deal of negativity during the recent campaign.
“It’s not all bad. I find social media is useful and enjoyable. For me, it’s entertainment,” he said. “That being said, it can also be very hurtful. I’ve been through this many times before. That’s fine. But when people attack you…I have five children reading this stuff and they take it very, very personally.”
Social media allows people to post in anonymity. Bondy said facts are often not part of the equation.
“These people, with this (so-called) great knowledge of my character, I’ve never met them. People start saying you’re a useless councillor and should never have been elected,” he said, adding it got more personal. “All of a sudden, these vicious, terrible things were said and it upset my kids.”
He urges people to take what is said on social media with a grain of salt.
“Compared to traditional media – traditional media is believable. People reading Facebook now is not like me reading the Globe & Mail 20 years ago. The facts are there,” Bondy said of news media. “They’re traditional media and they’re held accountable.”
Despite winning on Oct. 26, Bondy has invisible bruises from the past six months.
“This whole campaign was really not fun. I got pretty beat up,” he said.
