Yesterday we heard that Simon Harris is unhappy about comments made on social media. Today it's about politicians in general, how it puts them off running. Then we have the narrative that so and so won't run for the presidency because it can get hot in the kitchen.
Well you know what, I haven't a shred of sympathy for anyone with that view. If you want to stand for public office then you need to be thick skinned. It goes with the job. Politicians and wannabe politicians all love social media insofar as it allows them to announce how active they are in the community and what they are doing for their electorate etc. What they want to ignore is that social media is a two way street, it facilitates the public to give them valuable feedback.
They want to suck up the likes and the positive comments directed at them. But they don't want to hear from people who disagree with whatever they are doing or not doing. Well sorry, that's not how interaction with the public works. If you wannabe a politician, then you have to take all feedback, good & bad.
Isn't it curious that the complaints about abuse on social media only come from some public representatives. The others read the room and know what the story is, that it's a two edged tool and are thick skinned. I put it that those in the former group who whinge about negative feedback are too thin skinned and simply not suited to public life and should get out.
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Thin Skinned Politicians
Re: Thin Skinned Politicians
It's even more curious that, the moment a FG politician comes under serious pressure, the "far right" helpfully offer anonymous online threats that blanket out the media coverage. See: Helen McEntee, Leo Varadkar, Simon Harris. Astonishing coincidence that, in their hour of greatest need, these threats appeared to help them out. Handy, that.