Think Before You Write

Technology has certainly created both a positive and a negative effect on our lives in a number of ways, many with unintended consequences, as it has created intrusions into the private lives of individuals and families. It does so in many different ways without the explicit consent of so many within society, causing great personal harm to innocent individuals without little or no thought or consideration to those they are hurting, both young and old alike.

Some individuals believe they have a “God given right” to know what is happening within the lives of their neighbors and those individuals they have no personal relationships with. Smart phones, electronic scanning devices, social media, and other tracking devices, which allow for the gathering of data, can be used for the creation of digital footprints and monitoring conversations.

It is unfortunate when some of these individuals create such regrettable rumors and speculation as to ongoing events within neighborhoods to cause great harm and hurt to innocent families and individuals throughout communities. Unfortunately, they just lack some common sense in regard to the common decency that should be applied when using some of this technology available to them today.

It is difficult enough for a family to deal with these personal tragedies than to have them broadcast those events across the internet. What is wrong with some of these folks, are they so bored in their lives that they can’t find that one shred of decency to allow a family to grieve in private or to allow their family members be provided with those few moments to notify additional family members about a tragedy that will deeply affect them.

Many agencies have taken the added precautions to scramble their dispatch information to ensure the privacy of those communications for numerous reasons, and it is a shame that this expense might have to be incurred to provide the security of this information, as well as protecting our agencies' personnel.

The times we live in find us attempting to balance technology against transparency. The need to protect the privacy of the individual while balancing the need to know. You can rest assured that public safety agencies will always keep the safety and security of those abutting the scene of an event foremost in their minds, so they don’t need misinformation broadcast over the internet and the spreading of fabricated assumptions as to the facts surrounding an event. 

I speak to these types of matters to protect the lives of those families who will see these communications, which will deepen the sadness their families will have to deal with for the weeks and months ahead. 

No one is trying to minimize your rights or perceived rights to free speech. Instead, we are looking to protect the rights of those families that are being trampled upon due to the use of a technology that can be of great benefit if used properly. Put yourself in the shoes of those being affected and try to have some compassion for them and their extended families.

Technology can be a valuable asset if utilized properly. Let’s do everything we can to ensure that we as individuals do so in the future.