Whatsappealing and whatsappalling

MICHAEL SIEFF

While millions are fascinated by Facebook and the Twitter tweets of people in high places, my focus here is on the beautiful and beastly aspects of WhatsApp groups.

I belong to a number of them and am always astounded by how quickly they can galvanise people to action, raise the alert in emergency situations, inform members of the latest news and developments and gather information.  

Family groups share photographs, arrange lift schemes and co-ordinate celebrations. Shul groups organise minyanim and share details of community events. Tehillim groups elicit prayers for people in need of them and on social and sports groups we post appropriate and relevant information.

All of this is practical, positive and time-saving. Provided, that is, that people stick to the purpose of the groups and refrain from posting irrelevant and inaccurate information – sometimes at unearthly hours!

In my working life at the Chev, I am part of a number of WhatsApp groups too – many of them operational and designed to enhance efficiency and accelerate response times.  

A specific group advises me of every resident who passes away. Others deal with matters of management, meeting schedules, maintenance issues, power outages, transport strikes and security alerts.  

Again, all of these groups can expedite and improve our services and are very useful. These are the beautiful aspects of WhatsApp groups.

So, what are the beastly ones? Sometimes in sensitive situations community group members – undoubtedly motivated by the best and most noble of intentions – can forget who may be on the group and post insensitive or hurtful statements, questions or banter. 

Sometimes misinformation is shared as fact and sometimes that can be deeply hurtful or even devastating.

It is my experience that two simple rules can protect us all from miss-steps and tactless behaviour:

1.         Never add or share any information unless you are certain it is kind, and also necessary and also true, because often information that is true can also be unkind and it may well be unnecessary to share it.

2.         Always be sensitive to the feelings of others on the group. 

As we go about our daily family, work and community lives, and as technology creates new ways of communicating, our challenge is to take the best of what is on offer and handle it with extreme care. 

Let’s be at the forefront of how to use these tools efficiently, effectively and with sensitivity, not only for ourselves, but also for our children, our community and our contact lists!

May our partnership continue to thrive! Feedback@jhbchev.co.za