WHO KNEW FACEBOOK COULD BE SO PROVOCATIVE AND FUN?

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I think I hit a nerve.

Here was my Facebook post.  “16 year old girl tries to sail around the world.  13 year old boy climbs Mt. Everest.  Are parents crazy?  I would never allow my child.  Would you?”

At the time I asked my question, I didn’t think much about it.  I assumed I’d get a few parents to say they agreed with me & that would be it.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The first two posts were in support my position, but then all hell broke loose.  My friends got into a major disagreement about parenting.   The parents who limited their children were accused of stifling their potential.  The liberal parents were called irresponsible.

And since the parents of the girl sailor & the boy mountain climber, lived in California, there were accusations that “California is the land of fruits & nuts.” Then some of my California friends started calling the people from Alabama, “toothless red-necks.”

The conversation went on for more than twenty-four hours.  More than four pages of banter…forty-three separate comments.  And then when I arrived at the YMCA the next day & was approached by one of my good friends who had not commented on line, but wanted to give her opinion.

I had to stop & think about what had just happened.  Facebook had created a new & different dynamic.  Keep in mind that I knew everyone participating in the discussion.  Most of the people commenting didn’t know one another.  So we have a virtual conversation between strangers with basically one common friend—me. 

I found the whole conversation fascinating & fun.  I got some great insight into people—many of which I didn’t know very well.  I also got some great insight into parenting.

People sure are interesting.  This is David Sher, your WeMentor guy saying it’s not what you know, but whoo you know.