SpaceX vs George Floyd

[focuspuller]

AIBU to be baffled that so many of my acquaintances on social media are happy to share comments and reactions to the SpaceX/NASA flight but are not sharing similar reactions or comments about the murder of George Floyd?

Oh ffs! I’m so sick of the importance placed on Facebook - what you post on there means nothing and does nothing except get people into arguments that MEAN NOTHING!

If you feel that posting a comment somehow releases you from any obligation to go out there and make a fucking difference by either donating money to a worthy cause, physically protesting or voting for a different government etc etc, then you’re a twat and thank god you’re not my friend because if that’s how you judge whether or not someone is a worthy human being then god help us!

And I don’t mean this as a personal attack but Facebook can go fuck itself for the problems it’s causing me at the moment. It should be kept for people to post pictures of their shit dinners or kittens or something.

I hope you’ve checked the global news to be certain there’s nothing you haven’t yet covered in a Facebook post, @focuspuller

YABVU

I feel physically sick at the thought of what happened to George Floyd, and what Amy Cooper pulled on Christian Cooper in Central Park.

Do I talk about it on social media? Hell no. This appalling firestorm from hell is traumatic. FFS, the last thing the world needs is me hand-wringing about it. I take it as read my friends are distressed by it and know I am too.

We're living through a pandemic: our government is craven, corrupt and untrustworthy; we're being told to ease lockdown to distract from Dominic Cummings; America is on fire because of racist cops; the planet is on fire because of climate change; millions of people are unemployed while millions of kids see their exams and education disrupted.

SpaceX is inovative and interesting, because SPACE.
It doesn't mean anyone isn't ignoring what else is going on.

I deactivated my FB. It was completely liberating

@TerrapinStation

I have never posted a single political view on Facebook, doesn't mean I don't have any, other people aren't you, nothing sinister in that.

Ffs. People being murdered in America and the UK because of the colour of their skin shouldn't be a fucking "political issue" its a good vs. evil issue. By shrugging it off with a "I don't do politics" then you are part of the problem.

Although SpaceX is Elon Musk ....

"I don't do politics"

Big difference between that and "I don't do politics on Facebook"....

Interesting, I wonder how many people just post go and post in order not be judged.

@TheFencePainter

"I don't do politics"

Big difference between that and "I don't do politics on Facebook"....

OK fair enough. But whether you like it or not social media has become a fast growing tool to getting important messages out in the world. Hash tags, insta stories, trending posts, sharing all are what people see and pay attention to. If that helps and supports the issue than why wouldn't you? If you have other ways that you are raising awareness of the issues than by all means share those but I am just wondering how you think feeling bad about it but not talking about it will help. It's complacency and that's a major part of the issue.

Surely it's noone else's business what people put on their FB feed?

Whataboutery at its absolute finest.

FFS.

Wtf would I post on fb about it?

‘This is awful’? Well of course it fucking is.
‘This has to stop.’ Well, duh.

I’m leaving the bandwidth for people who have something useful or interesting to say about it.

@GreytExpectations

Ffs. People being murdered in America and the UK because of the colour of their skin shouldn't be a fucking "political issue" its a good vs. evil issue. By shrugging it off with a "I don't do politics" then you are part of the problem.

No they’re not. They’re someone who chooses to use a social media platform to share pictures of their children, or funny recipes, or origami videos, or just nothing.

Have you written to a national newspaper about George Floyd? Created a petition? Written to your MP? Written a song? Donated money? Written to the President? I could go on with a hundred more examples...

If not, why not?

Hash tags, insta stories, trending posts, sharing all are what people see and pay attention to

I must be irrelevant then because I don't know what some.of those mean, let alone use any of them.

I must be the most un-aware person ever. I've no Facebook, Instagram or Twitter... still reading books and newspapers! Interestingly the news I've discussed with others hasn't included the situation in the US so does the absence of that subject or a "platform" make me racist?

Social media has been around for years and the world is in the worst state it’s been in since I don’t know when. Yeah, it’s done a great job of helping and supporting issues

I have no FB or Twitter either. It's great.

Many people keep politics of their social media. No matter what the politics are about.

I didn't know wanting justice for literal murder victims was a political issue.

Apologies. I didn't realise that me not posting "thoughts and prayers" and instead actually talking with my friends about it irl was being a part of the problem.... 🙄

Do you also keep a spreadsheet of people on your street who haven't been out on the street clapping on a Thursday night? After all, they quite clearly don't give a shit about the sacrifices made by NHS staff, right?

Clearly the fact a lot of you lack an understanding of social media as a tool proves my point. No worries, you enjoy your little ignorant bubbles where you can ignore real issues but focus on the lighthearted stuff.

OP, I applaud you for starting this thread. Unfortunately, people aren't getting your point but I agree with you. Mumsnet isn't an ideal place to discuss subjects like rascism or modern communications.

Does anyone else wish that we could have an international agreement to only have internet access every other month? I remember speaking with people, ordering by FAX being the technological marval of the age and vinetta being exclusive... ok personal hygiene wasn't so good but generally people weere not judged for what order they read the paper!

Clearly the fact a lot of you lack an understanding of social media as a tool proves my point

No, I understand some people use social media as a tool to present a certain image of themselves to the world. I don't do that. I read newspapers instead.

@GreytExpectations
Wow how woke you are. I think you should find a platform so trendy that you are only communicating with people on your level ... you know yourself!

@NameChangedToProtect1

Does anyone else wish that we could have an international agreement to only have internet access every other month? I remember speaking with people, ordering by FAX being the technological marval of the age and vinetta being exclusive... ok personal hygiene wasn't so good but generally people weere not judged for what order they read the paper!

Would make the current situation of being in a global pandemic pretty hard. I find it sad that you can see how much the Internet has contributed to society as a whole. If it werent for social media and the Internet people wouldn't have found out about George Floyd so quickly, same as all the other BAME people murded in America.