Richie and I spend a fair amount of time on Facebook, and my overarching goal with both of our pages is to keep our posts positive and uplifting. Particularly in the world of dog rescue, this can often be difficult. Recently someone posted in a group I belong to about supposed mistreatment of a soldier and his new puppy by the veterinary hospital where Richie is a patient. The story sounded totally at odds with my experiences with this hospital over the past seven years with both Richie and my previous dog, who had seizures and was seen many times (as opposed to Richie, who fortunately is in good health and doesn't visit very often). Before I knew it, several people who I consider good friends had gone to the Facebook page for this hospital and posted livid reviews slamming them for what they had supposedly done, based solely on a one-sided account of the situation. Of course, the hospital's side of the story came out a day or two later, and things were not as they had first seemed.
This incident distressed me because of the speed with which people were ready to react to a negative story. I've been on Facebook long enough not to react immediately to anything I see there, since there are always two sides to every story and many people just plain make things up. I can't tell you how many dog pages I've come across that are just fronts for people to make money, including dog breeders who claim to have an ailing dog and are always trying to raise money for one supposed surgery after another. This episode also involved raising money and, although I don't think it was the case this time, it could have easily been a scam to appeal to people's emotions. Fortunately the veterinary hospital posted a thoughtful response on its page a day or two later and removed the nasty reviews, but it broke my heart to see how quickly people could spout off angrily and try to ruin a reputation when they didn't really know what had happened.
I chose not to react immediately, either in the group or on other Facebook pages, and I'm glad I waited, since I felt the hospital gave the best response. I didn't want to perpetuate the negativity pervading the whole incident, and I probably would have if I had responded right away. I strive to have rational reactions that spread joy and love, at least in writing, even if my initial emotional reactions don’t tend that way. I hope that my social media interactions remain positive, and Richie's page is definitely a place of love and light.
This incident distressed me because of the speed with which people were ready to react to a negative story. I've been on Facebook long enough not to react immediately to anything I see there, since there are always two sides to every story and many people just plain make things up. I can't tell you how many dog pages I've come across that are just fronts for people to make money, including dog breeders who claim to have an ailing dog and are always trying to raise money for one supposed surgery after another. This episode also involved raising money and, although I don't think it was the case this time, it could have easily been a scam to appeal to people's emotions. Fortunately the veterinary hospital posted a thoughtful response on its page a day or two later and removed the nasty reviews, but it broke my heart to see how quickly people could spout off angrily and try to ruin a reputation when they didn't really know what had happened.
I chose not to react immediately, either in the group or on other Facebook pages, and I'm glad I waited, since I felt the hospital gave the best response. I didn't want to perpetuate the negativity pervading the whole incident, and I probably would have if I had responded right away. I strive to have rational reactions that spread joy and love, at least in writing, even if my initial emotional reactions don’t tend that way. I hope that my social media interactions remain positive, and Richie's page is definitely a place of love and light.
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