
not agree with the verdict and feel that Martin still deserves justice. The government is looking into the case so see if they can bring other charges against Zimmerman. Peaceful protests and demonstrations are part of the democratic culture. However, when they turn violent, as they have in this case, it is beyond logic how breaking the law and destroying property is a valid action against a perceived or real injustice; it’s just not rational. Perhaps, the case may go to civil courts, as it did with O. J. Simpson, in a wrongful
death suit.
Along with all the protest are numerous messages of outrage on social networks. Some are followed up quickly with apologies for things said. I wrote about using
social networks in my e-book, Leadership for New Managers: book Two. Here is what I wrote:
“b. Social Networks
Currently, people are more connected that ever. Social networking programs like Facebook,
Twitter, and Linked In enable each person to connect electronically and to communicate instantly with hundreds of like-minded individuals. The impact when social networks coordinated events like the Arab Spring was tremendous.
Leader/managers should get involved and master these programs. They can be great tools in a
leader’s career. They can be useful for networking, hiring associates, and job searches. One way to get organized is to use Linked In for professional contacts, professional groups, and associations. Use Facebook for family and friends. Use Twitter for socializing and general interest. Monitoring
appropriate blogs can be informative and useful.
Social networks can also get leaders into trouble. Use common sense. Leader/managers should never send anything that they do not want their employer or associates to see.”
That last point is important. E-mails and Tweets are much different that snail mail – they can have a life of their own. They may live forever somewhere in that great black hole called the internet, and resurface years later. They could go viral. Some people have thousands of followers, and, with a couple of clicks, it is retweeted. Therefore, people should think twice or three times about what they
send out. Never, send any message while angry or emotional. S0metime, it is best to sleep on it. I believe that social networks need a 5-second delay, so you can change your mind and stop the message. It could be an option with a variable timer. I might need 10 minutes. I am a little slow to realize that I have said something stupid.