What We Need in This World is More Love and Compassion

Sunday night we went to see Elton John play the Sussex County Cricket Ground In Hove, next to Brighton in the United Kingdom. (Sorry, work pressures has meant this has been sitting in my inbox for a few weeks. :) )

Elton made a plea for more love and more compassion in the world and told everybody to put social media down.

I would also like to make plea for more love and compassion in the world but maybe if we understood social media, better, we wouldn’t need to put it down?

Social Media is a “teenager” I’ve been on it for ten years, it's still young and growing. It's not like cycles or cars where there is a known etiquette. Let’s understand some more of the psychology behind social media.

We also recommend to users of social media not to post anything about politics, smut, religion or any addictions. Why?

Because these things in humans are driven by our beliefs. Here is a metaphor to explain. I am a Manchester United supporter, Jets supporter, Republican (this is a metaphor before you leave a comment about how crap Manchester United are) and this is part of our belief system. It does not matter how many facts I may present that Liverpool, the Dolphins or the Democrats (it’s still a metaphor) are better, you won’t agree.

So, my plea, is this. Either stop posting this stuff, yes I know you are passionate about this, but how about we stop and start showing some love and compassion?

How about we stop trying to change people’s minds and understand that we cannot as it’s a belief, again how about we show some love and compassion?

I also see, intelligent people posting, what is obviously fake news. Why not Google articles before you post, to check their validity. Just by spending this few seconds we are able to show more love and compassion.

And finally, there is the thinking “fast and slow” response. This has often been used by organisations to manipulate people on social. How does this work?

People who love A but hate B will be connected to people who love B and hate A. A person who loves A will post the fact expecting a response from other A lovers, they may even get a response from A haters.

The thing is people are being manipulated to post these things. It sounds bizarre, but this is politics today. People who hate a subject are being used to post something as it motivates the opposite.

A have a friend who is anti a subject and he posts about this all time, except the articles are created by the very people he hates. In the novel, 1984, George Orwell talks about “double speak” and it’s live and well and on social media today.

Posting about subject something you hate is actually having the opposite approach. My plea is you have some love and compassion and stop posting, you are being manipulated after all. These posts just adds oxygen to the fire.

My advice is to step back from posting about belief systems, keep away from posting anything about politics, smut, religion or any addictions.

It is time for more love and compassion!