Social Media Destroying Politics
Brady Grove, Contributor
We have all been warned to be careful about what we post on social media, but despite the warnings many people are still posting controversial things thinking it will never have repercussions. The federal election has provided a perfect example of this. Candidates are being let go at an alarming rate for things they have posted on Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites.
According to CBC news, there have been 15 candidates that have found themselves in hot water this election. Of these 15 candidates, 13 got into trouble over social media posts or comments. Ten of the candidates have been fired or dropped by their perspective parties.
The Conservatives are leading the way with eight controversial candidates. They have cut ties with six of them. Gilles Guibord was forced to resign over sexist posts in the comments section of a Montreal newspaper. Tim Dutaud posted videos on YouTube posing as a physically disabled person and one of him feigning an orgasm. Perhaps the most spectacular firing of the election is Jerry Bance, who was caught by a hidden camera urinating into a coffee mug of a customer when he was a repairman.
The Liberals have had four candidates under fire and have dropped three. Ala Buzreba had four-year-old tweets resurface where she said that someone should have been aborted with a coat hanger. She also told another person to “go blow their brains out.” Joy Davies resigned after Facebook comments speculating that marijuana was being used as a cancer treatment and that the Canadian Cancer Society was in cahoots with the pharmaceutical industry.
The NDP have been lucky with only two candidates hurting themselves with their social media posts. Morgan Wheeldon posted to Facebook that Israel was performing “ethnic cleansing,” in regards to the Palestinian conflict.
Bloc Quebecois candidate VirJiny Provost got herself into trouble after answering a survey question. Asked what she would do in the event of a nuclear attack, she wrote she would bring “her cellphone, a penis and chips.”
These people probably never thought their comments would come back to haunt them. In this day and age anything that goes on the Internet could potentially be used against you and cost you future employment.
It’s a fine line between healthy debate and a childish squabble. Things can get out of control quickly when participating in an online argument. Ask yourself if proving your point to a stranger is worth your time, energy and potentially your career.
