Social Media is a funny thing. If you put something out there, whether it's on Twitter, Facebook or somewhere else, you cannot take it back.
There are no retractions or do-overs in Social Media.
It's kind of like live television.
You can apologize, and back peddle. But you cannot change that first tweet, facebook post or email.
Nowhere was that more evident than with a story involving two rival football teams.
"A Top Ten List" was anonymously sent to the Eastridge High School Athletic Department.
Pretty soon it was also posted on Facebook and on Twitter. And it was fodder for morning radio shows.
Did the list cross the line, as some Eastridge parents suggest, by naming names of players and calling them things like "midget" and "hoodlums"?
That's not for me to say.
But parents were incensed enough to send us emails and call-in to local radio programs.
Some emailed us saying: "You have to do a story on this...this needs to be told."
So we investigated. We made phone calls. We begged parents who were supposedly "upset" to share their concerns with us in an interview, so we could tell their story.
As fast as their Facebook posts and rants went up, they shut us down. Some said they didn't want to embarrass their kids by "complaining" on television.
Others said they didn't want to be identified.
Really?
You weren't afraid to post the list and your comments on Facebook or Twitter.
Yet, what it comes to sharing a story, you said, "needed to be told," you wanted no part of it.
One parent told us: "Just show up at practice" and talk to players and coaches.
Well, we aren't allowed to do that. We have to go through proper channels before doing interviews with students and even adults, on school grounds.
So we proceeded to get reaction to this "list" without hearing from those who found it to be "so wrong."
It isn't the story as it should be told, but it will be objective and balanced.
My gripe is if you don't want to talk to us that's fine.
But what's the difference between putting your face, name and post on Facebook and appearing on local television news?
Okay, hopefully, a lot more people will see the news.
But that's not the point. People think they can "hide" behind Social Media and even emails.
They can say anything they want and put it out there, but when it comes time to explaining their case or their concern, they want nothing to do with it.
I know it is their perogative, whether or not to be interviewed on-camera.
But you cannot expect us to cover something throroughly, if you are hiding behind words that are already out there.
Patrice Walsh, Reporter
