MICAH’s “Virtual Virtue” Squads Coming to Social Media Near You!
Someone on the online social media service NextDoor might have seen something like this the other day….
“Hello neighbors –
I’m worried about what might be happening to people who have lost their jobs or income due to COVID. Rents and mortgages are still due! I know that the County has some new rent assistance…”
They might have seen that in White Bear Lake, or in Stillwater, or on the East Side of St. Paul. The reason – MICAH has taken to the virtual public square to make our voices heard during the COVID pandemic.
When voices like ours are not in these places, other voices prevail. Fear, division, racism and reaction can easily take over, and leave an impression that an entire community is united in a single way of thinking. This is usually not the case, but social media can make it seem so! Rumors and falsehoods can combine with anti-change rhetoric and if left un-remarked upon, they tend to avalanche.
Which is what happened in White Bear in late 2018. The City was looking at a proposal to replace four abandoned gas stations on one intersection with four small apartment buildings. Negative messages on NextDoor magnified fears and repeated half-truths and untruths. By the time there were community meetings held, a critical mass of opposition had been created. Calm, factual responses by community members could have made a difference!
So, we have begun to work on organized community voices for “Virtual Virtue” squads – loving and positive ambassadors who spread real facts and calm support on issues we care about. We will have a few quick responses for standard questions, and be there to support and up-vote each other!
We have just had a couple of posts made and we’re slowly rolling this out, first on NextDoor.
So, we have begun to work on organized community voices for “Virtual Virtue” squads – loving and positive ambassadors who spread real facts and calm support on issues we care about. We will have a few quick responses for standard questions, and be there to support and up-vote each other!
We have just had a couple of posts made and we’re slowly rolling this out, first on NextDoor. But if this is successful, we may be bringing the model to a chapter near you!
So, we have begun to work on organized community voices for “Virtual Virtue” squads – loving and positive ambassadors who spread real facts and calm support on issues we care about. We will have a few quick responses for standard questions, and be there to support and up-vote each other!
We have just had a couple of posts made and we’re slowly rolling this out, first on NextDoor. But if this is successful, we may be bringing the model to a chapter near you!
