OZARK, MO— The Ozark community is blessed to have the Ozark Mo Community Chitchat Facebook page! With more than 30,000 members, the page is a terrific source of information, gossip, road conditions, etc.
People tied to the Ozark community have a thriving source of input here. Check it out, if you haven’t already!
Sometimes, as with any social media large platform, things get crossways. I’m certainly no exception. In fact, I reported on road conditions during inclement weather recently, only to be embroiled in a legal and even political bashing session!
Wow, that taught me a lot. I learned this: my “adversaries”…i.e. the folks naysaying my recording while driving, are actually my best lookouts, spotting my shortcomings and calling them out.
Normally, I take these things too personally, and lash back with clever responses, which become “threads” of replies back and forth between members. This back and forth, while entertaining, is also equally irritating to others scrolling for true information and not part of the rivarly.
Another conversation on the page reaped a challenge of racism. What I thought was sarcastic banter between witty minded people turned cold and unfriendly. I was surprised, but then I learned something else: without a personal relationship, without face to face, stark text messaging, without body language, inflection, and background or context, leads people to places unintended.
So, for those who heard my “text” and took offense; I realize we are not in the same room. We can’t judge our words evenly and accurately via text.
Community pages are wonderful sources for road conditions, and finding out what people want more of, or less of, or improved, or help with fining a lost animal or alert for a lost human, or concerns about a school or community situation, etc.
But let’s realize the limits of text and seek direct communication when possible.
Two examples: one man recently had an idea for a free sports option, so I met with him personally and wrote a helpful supportive article about his idea. Click here for that.
Another man got crossways with me politically, and later said he was supporting an opponent of a political candidate I support. We agreed to talk over coffee. Best to learn who the other person with the other viewpoint is face to face, rather than trade text jabs on a community page.
To those offended or unhappy with my text posts, I am willing to meet in person over coffee or water, whatever you drink.
Hope to hear form you!
Thanks again to Ozark Mo Community page on Facebook for being there for all of us!