Before one can go and make outlandish comments on politic and civic culture, it would be prudent to define them. In brief, politics, as defined by the Collins dictionary (2018), “is/are the actions or activities concerned with achieving and using power in a country or society”, whereas civic culture is a belief in “participation of civic duties” and/or “the acceptance of the authority of the state” (Oxford Reference 2018). While there is a distinction between the two, the one commonality is the need for self or political promotion. Hence, we have seen an embracing of Social Media by both political campaigners and life campaigners. The question is, has this impacted the way campaigning is done? Of course, social media has impacted how we all do things. Now, for better or worse, we have a populous that can be both reached and can reach back. We have politicians proclaiming their promises, and we have the average Australian giving feedback. Unfortunately, some of that feedback is neither polite nor positive (Jericho 2013 p. 255), but this is no different to a Politician standing on the corner soapboxing or door knocking. That is unless one considers that the feedback is often more abusive due to the ability to comment without showing up in person.
From the politician’s point of view, it is hard to see how one can ignore the social media platforms. In one sense they are incredibly dangerous, with there always being someone watching every move made and every word said in order to correct or pull-up the author.
On the other hand, there are a plethora of opportunities to be had. One thing is of absolute certainty; the use of social media in politics has been for the greater good. Before the crucifixion starts on that statement, let me explain. The use of social media platforms by campaigners has attracted a wider audience. Be they both educated and uneducated, the authors are often terse in their delivery of comments. Still, the level of civic involvement has increased. While it has attracted and highlighted the stupidest of commentaries from both writers and audiences alike, it has broken open the center of the political world (Jericho 2013 p. 287).
Social media has given to the world a means to hold to account those that are meant to be honourable and stand for what is right. Likewise, bloggers on social media sites have pressure journalist to a new level of honesty and accuracy (Young 2010 p. 224). Now we have a special moment in time where we can sit back and watch the leaders of the nation, and the people that comment, metaphorically hang themselves. Maybe God and Abraham Lincoln had it right when they suggested it was better to say nothing and not be thought a fool. (Proverbs 17:27-28 and QuoteInvestigator 2010).
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Holy Bible 1986, The Holy Bible, American Bible Society, New York.
Jericho, G 2013, The Rise of the Fifth Estate, Scribe Publications Pty Ltd., Carlton North, pp. 254-314.
Oxford Dictionary 2018, Civic culture - Oxford Reference, viewed 26 December, 2018, <http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095613999>.
Quote investigator 2018, Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt – Quote Investigator, viewed 27 December, 2018, <https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/17/remain-silent/#note-227-3>.
Relatebly 2018, Political Meme, [image], viewed 27 December, 2018, <http://www.relatably.com/m/political-memes>.
Thebrotherssj 2018, thebrothersj, Music. Life. The Pursuit. [image], viewed 27 December, 2018, <https://thebrothersj.wordpress.com/soap-boxing/>.
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Young, S 2010, How Australia Decides; Election Reporting and the Media, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 201-228.