An intemperate or inappropriate remark made in private can be a thing of the moment, sparked by a little frustration or temporary thoughtlessness and soon forgotten.
Unless you post it on Facebook, where it takes on a life of its own, beyond your control and difficult to eradicate. Your 15 minutes of fame can too easily turn into a lifetime of shame.
The experience of Langford Coun. Roger Wade is a reminder to everyone to pause for some sober second thought before clicking the 鈥淧ost鈥� button. He stirred up an Internet storm with an unkind comment about a teenage umpire, as well as remarks about using his cellphone while driving.
Unhappy with a call by an umpire in a Victoria Eagles and Nanaimo Pirates baseball game, Wade posted his displeasure on Facebook, calling the 19-year-old umpire by name and writing: 鈥淵ou suck.鈥�
In another post, Wade writes: 鈥淪o I鈥檓 driving out the Pat Bay highway today in the slow lane going the speed limit talking on my phone. This idiot comes up beside me and starts taking my picture.鈥�
He criticizes the other driver for an illegal lane change, tailgating and hogging the left lane. When one of his Facebook friends responds by suggesting he get off the phone, Wade writes: 鈥淪orry Steve but it鈥檚 not gonna happen.鈥�
It鈥檚 entirely predictable that Wade鈥檚 remarks would stir critical response, but he apparently didn鈥檛 see it coming.
鈥淚 have a hard time fathoming this,鈥� he told sa国际传媒 reporter Amy Smart. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know that everything I did was for people to scrutinize.鈥�
Really? Then why put your ruminations on social media, where the point is to let as many people as possible know what you are thinking?
To be circumspect when using social media is a good lesson for everyone to heed, but it isn鈥檛 the only lesson in this case. There鈥檚 one about leadership 鈥� Wade is an elected official and, as such, should lead by example.
People in positions such as his should be held to a higher standard, or at least should adhere to the minimum level of civil conduct expected of everyone. Those who run for office know full well they will be watched.
Public officials also have to demonstrate a respect for the law. If the people who make laws have contempt for the law or think they are above it, why should the rest of us follow the rules?
To his credit, Wade sounds somewhat chastened. He says he will apologize to the umpire and admits using his phone while driving was wrong. Fair enough.
Some people have called for his resignation, but that wouldn鈥檛 serve the interests of the Langford residents Wade represents. He鈥檚 an energetic councillor and, judging by some of his Facebook posts, an enthusiastic supporter of many good causes.
And he says he has learned his lesson.
鈥淥ne thing I鈥檝e learned in the last couple of days is that I won鈥檛 be on Facebook very much,鈥� he said.
But blaming it on Facebook is like shooting the messenger. It鈥檚 not about Facebook, it鈥檚 about civil, legal behaviour.
Think about the principles and values that you want to guide your life 鈥� and act accordingly. That鈥檚 the lesson that should be learned.
