Always Be Positive Online (Yes, Always)

Last week I shared this quote from Mark Anderson, chair of the Future in Review conference. He said, "The Web is not a mirror of human activity; it is an amplifier."

And thus one bad egg affects every morning breakfast all around the world.

Mark worries that the Internet might not be such a good idea after all, because of its negative amplification effect.

I wouldn't go that far, but we all need to think harder about this tendency and ways to offset it.

Truth is, there are plenty of opportunities to be negative, and most of them are best used as discretely as possible. If an employee isn't doing their job, tell them privately and offer constructive suggestions. If a friend let you down, share your feelings in a manner that encourages your friend to be more sensitive to your needs. If you don't like what politicians are doing, run for office or support a new candidate.

But screaming at each other online? That is a path to a bleak future for us all. It won't solve any problems, and it won't change anyone's mind.

You might consider printing out—or taking a screen grab—of my eight suggestions and keeping them handy when you are online.

I'd like to suggest that it is much better to counter negativity with positivity, than to meet it head on with more anger.

Also bear in mind that if someone else is online promoting an evil, hair-brained scheme, the odds of your dissuading them with logic is zero.

And now for a bit of great news. If Mark is right and the Web is an amplifier, your positive actions online will be amplified. Give this some thought. What can you do to amplify constructive, collaborative, and positive ideas?

Hint: there are about 112 billion possibilities.

Bruce Kasanoff is a ghostwriter who tries very hard to be positive online. He is the author of Never Tell People What You Do and How to Self-Promote (without Being a Jerk).