A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

Social media

Purge: 2020

The next seven-plus months are going to be rough. 

No matter if you are political in nature or not, this is going to be a long summer. Take the current pandemic and mix it in with the Presidential and other national elections and it’s going to be hard to deal with. 

You can be republican. You can be a democrat. You can be independent or some other party. It won’t matter. It’s going to be everywhere. 

Especially on social media. 

One thing this pandemic has taught me is it doesn’t matter what situation we are in – people’s opinions will not change. They can have a ton of facts on their side and others won’t budge. On the flip side, you can read things you think are factual and argue it until you are blue in the face. 

It doesn’t matter. 

Even in a situation we are currently in, there is no true thing as bipartisan. Each side will claim they want to be, but in the end nobody really is. 

I am not registered to any party. I have been that way since I was 18. I tend to lean one way over the other, but I have voted for both major parties during my lifetime. 

That’s as political as I’m going to get on this blog. I’ve always said politics and religion and things like that are topics I do not want to touch and I will keep it that way. There’s nothing good that comes out of it because let’s face it – I have my opinions and thoughts just as much as the next person. 

With that in mind, I also have a hard time stomaching seeing it on social media. 

My Facebook is pretty guarded. I keep my connections there lower and pretty much to people I know in person. I don’t do a lot outside of family or posting things I’ve actually done (photos/videos etc.) as I like it to be a happier place. My Twitter is a little more open, as is my Instagram. I’ve recently started to try and get my YouTube page a little better, but that will also be pretty light-hearted. 

It’s only April, though, and I’ve already had my fill of politics on social media. 

Purge 2020 is now a thing for me. 

Allow me to say this … I respect that everybody has an opinion. I can disagree. I can wonder why one can believe something that may not be factual. I know people look at me and maybe they’ll think I am not thinking factually. 

That’s fine. 

But I also don’t have to let all of this infiltrate a place I want to be fun and/or relaxing. And if I see a lot of this stuff, I tend to get worked up – much like many other people. I don’t mind a difference of opinions, but when people don’t speak factually, it drives me crazy. 

One quick example – when New York went to the executive order of wearing face masks if you couldn’t maintain social distancing. I saw many, many posts talking about how this was against our rights. This “law” was crap. And why should we have to wear masks in our homes or in our car etc. People didn’t listen or read what was done. They assumed. The order was an executive order. The governor even said there wouldn’t be fines (unless it was ignored by like everybody, in which case civil fines were possible), but it was more an executive order to show respect to those around you. 

By that example, people heard “wear face masks” and felt this was something that was being told you have to do no matter what. Look, I don’t like wearing them. But if I go into a store or the post office or something like that, I put one on. Why? Because it’s respectful to those around me who do think we should wear them. It’s not forever.

Think though, how an order like that with the idea of just protecting the population has turned political. Experts say the masks are a good thing, so why can’t we be bipartisan? 

OK, back to the point at hand. 

Purge 2020. 

I find when I see too many political posts/tweets – from both sides – it becomes overload. I have my opinions and stance and won’t likely alter it. Therefore, from now until November 8, I’m not going to have to listen to one side or the other or the people in between. I don’t need to see hate posts about what this candidate said, or what this spokesperson said. I don’t need to see people posting clickbait stories based on false headlines, or yelling “fake news” because they disagree with CNN or Fox News. 

The media is as much to blame as anybody – and I say that as somebody who used to work in newspapers. We are in a society where people have limited attention spans and need something fast and furious. 

This seems like as good of a time as any to clean up my social media. As the season heats up, I’m going to use all those fun buttons. Unfollow. Unfriend and/or block (in extreme cases). Silence. All the stuff that makes it so I don’t need to see things. 

I looked through my Facebook list the other night. There’s a lot of people who I haven’t been in contact with for a long time. I looked at my Twitter and saw a lot of things where I wondered why I followed that account. Same with Instagram. 

And in the end, I wondered why I am letting a place where I want it to be enjoyable and relaxing to fire me up. 

The Twitterverse, especially, is beautiful to block. Facebook, too. If I see things that fire me up (even if not friends, rather shares and retweets), I can just block and not see anything from that person. 

My goal has been set. 

Purge 2020 is underway to save my social media and make it fun again. 

And yes, I’d rather those delicious posts about your meals. I actually do enjoy those posts!

Come November make sure you vote – no matter the side you choose. It’s your right to do so. 

In the end, though, whoever may read this post, I hope you make it through the summer months healthy and with less stress than most of us are feeling now. 

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Social media blunders: Why open the gates so late?

Social media in 2019 is a powerful tool. 

It can be a lot of fun, it can sometimes be mean, and it can be somewhere in between. It’s also a place for a lot of information, which is great. But, if you are putting out information and something seems a bit off or fishy, then somebody likely will be there to call it out.

That seems especially true on Twitter.

For those who don’t follow minor league baseball teams, there are a lot of teams who embrace social media (especially Twitter) and really have a lot of fun with it. And, at the same time, if they post something not fully right, they will usually man up and take the blame and try and have fun with it. 

Not so, recently, in the case of the Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. 

Now, before I get into the whole situation, let me be clear on one thing – I have no issue in what they did in regard to gates and such. It is their right, and they had reasons. But, the fact that they gave false information, then basically doubled-down on it before giving away their true reason (without admitting the first was false) is where this goes wrong. 

Look, I understand what Minor League Baseball is all about. And I love it. But I don’t like when teams swerve fans, especially when there are facts to back up the fan side of things. 

Trenton is one team that usually has a pretty good grasp on things. I even blogged about it in 2016 (https://hoohaa.com/?p=10103). This time, not so much. 

With that in mind, here’s the story. 

It started with a simple Tweet on July 22 – talking about the game that night being postponed. The kicker is that it was a scheduled bobblehead day. For those not into minor league baseball – bobblehead nights are usually massive draws and most of the time only with a limited amount to give away (usually anywhere from 500-2,000). When some stadiums seat upward of 8,000-10,000 people, it’s often necessary to get in line an hour or two early to have a chance. 

So, Trenton postponed this game. And then posted these two tweets:

And …

Harmless, right? People seemed OK with it, but something stood out.

The gates for season-ticket holders would open at 5:30 p.m. – the same time as the first pitch was scheduled. And if you weren’t a season-ticket holder, then you were stuck waiting for the gates to open at 6 p.m. – 30 minutes after first pitch.

People picked up on this. Check out some of the responses, as well as the replies from the team (these are from each of the original tweets, not just one of them):

I mean, really?

I’ve probably been to a dozen or more Eastern League doubleheaders – single-admission and starting earlier than “normal” and been allowed in at least 30 minutes before the first pitch. This got me really wondering. So I had to ask.

And while asking, I got a more truthful answer.

I responded to that with this, which didn’t receive a reply.

On the other thread, they were questioned, too:

This received the “real” answer as well, along with a funny response from their opponents – Akron.

In searching other social media for this situation, Trenton held the line with the Eastern League rule, but when called out, the team again noted the bobblehead deal.

Those responding didn’t seem thrilled with this. And one idea came out that made sense (and I had wondered why they didn’t do this initially, either) — why not have a different entrance for those wanting to just get into the game and not worry about a bobblehead?

So, let me share some of the Facebook goodness, too.

You have to give the team credit for sticking to their stance — but the rule. This is what really got to me. They said it was a league rule, but haven’t shown anything about it. And, in the end, if you were doing this for the bobblehead (which, to be honest, makes no sense why not to open early… if people want the bobble, they’ll be there. Reality is… the night you were washed out was the bobble night — so all bets are off after that. I guarantee you’d still give away 1,500 bobbles), then say so from the beginning without throwing your league and some “rule” out there.

Especially when not everybody cares about the bobblehead. This, from the night of the doubleheader:

But, being the former newspaper person I am, I was really curious. Could this possibly be a true rule?

I think we all know the answer, but I needed to at least try and find out. So, I tweeted at the Eastern League.

Shockingly enough, I never received a response. I’m guessing it isn’t a rule.

And then …

I’d like to point out that I went to a Binghamton Rumble Ponies doubleheader on July 31. First pitch was scheduled for 5:35 p.m. Sound familiar?

Note when the gates open.

Apparently if it was an Eastern League rule… Binghamton didn’t get the memo. Or maybe it was just for a week or so. And why would I think that?

Well, on August 1, Trenton was again scheduled for a single-admission doubleheader. Note the start time. And note the gate time.

Fireworks and drink special night, but doesn’t appear to be a bobblehead night. Maybe that’s the rule they were referring to … or maybe …

Here’s the kicker to this doubleheader — in the opener, Trenton had a no-hitter. Only the sixth in franchise history — yet the second this season. In the minors, doubleheaders are seven-inning games. That no-hitter took 1 hour, 27 minutes to complete.

Let that sink in for a second — 1 hour, 27 minutes. The Trenton’s Brian Keller needed just 70 pitches for this dandy. IF, this had been a bobblehead day. And IF they had pulled the same bull about when the gates open. And IF you are were toward the back of the line because you got there a little later, there’s a chance you aren’t in the stadium and to your seat until about an hour into the game, give or take.

IF that had happened, the Trenton Thunder would have robbed fans of watching a dandy of a game, seeing history, and seeing something that not everybody gets to see on a regular basis in it entirety. And if you had stopped off to grab a hot dog or something, who knows how much you would have seen.

IF that had been me in that situation, I would have flipped. I love bobbleheads. And I have a lot of them. And I like giveaways like anybody else. But when I go to a baseball game, it’s for the game first — everything else second. Maybe Trenton will realize moving forward that many others think this way as well and not rob a possible amazing experience for a rescheduled giveaway item.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Positive vibes needed on The Book

There really isn’t anything that should shock me in regard to Facebook and what people post anymore.

As social networks continue to grow, people put more and more information freely out there. It might be where you’re eating dinner, or what event you are watching, or photos of friends, animals and others.

There are rants about politics and religion. There’s bigotry, racism, and hate. There’s good news, love, and things to make you smile.

Social media is basically a one-stop shop, so to speak.

One thing I’ve continually noticed, though, is it’s harder and harder to hide from negativity on Facebook. If anyone happens to look at my timeline, there’s nothing Earth shattering. Basically, I post a lot of photos. Sometimes, if I remember, there are links to blog posts. Occasionally, I’ll have a post about something I’ve done or places I’ve been. And though I haven’t put one on Facebook in a while, sometimes you’ll see some food shots. I’ll share things occasionally from other places, but for the most part – it’s just my little world.

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But I keep it positive.

It’s not a recent trend by any stretch, but maybe I’ve noticed it a little more. Over the past few months, I have been in a “blah” place. Whether it be work-related stress, personal things, or whatever else – I just haven’t felt like myself. That’s changed over the past three weeks or so, which is good. But I’ve also opened my eyes to a lot of other things – such as, what I will now refer to as, Facebook Spew.

What is Facebook Spew, you might ask?

Facebook Spew is all the junk that comes from those typing away about anything and everything and having no filter.

Remember – if you put it out there, it can be seen. It doesn’t matter if you are jeering or celebrating our President elect. It doesn’t matter if you are talking about a neighbor or somebody else. Or if you are complaining about weather, the schools, or whatever else one can think of. The reality is people use Facebook as an uncensored place for people to say whatever they want and not think about consequences of their actions or words.

Now, understand this – I firmly believe in freedom of speech. This isn’t a post saying people should stop. Heck, if it’s your thing, keep it up.

It doesn’t, however, mean I have to keep reading. And yes, I know there’s the “unfollow” button that allows people to be friends and not see the other person’s feed, but what’s the point of that? Isn’t the point of social media to want to see other people’s news and updates? That’s how I look at it anyway.

So … sometime before the end of 2016, I’m going to go through my Facebook account and I’m going to look at people’s accounts. Some people I might already not “follow.” Some I might. But I’m going to look and see.

Is there a lot of Spew? If so, I might have to say goodbye. It doesn’t mean I don’t like you anymore. Really, it doesn’t. It just means I don’t want to see Spew.

I’ve noticed recently I’ve lost a few friends (by the number) in the Facebook world. It actually made me smile. I have no idea who the people were, and that’s OK. But why smile? Because that means somebody might not like what I am posting (which, again, is just usually photos) and decided to say … I don’t need to see it anymore.

That’s fine and I respect it.

Facebook is a wonderful platform when used how you see fit – be it a place to complain or give opinions; or a place for sharing good things and such. But Facebook is also a place where people need to have the courage to say … we are friends and will continue to be in the real world, but when it comes to here … I’m saying goodbye.

I might only do it to 2-3 people. Maybe it will be a dozen. Who knows? But as we come into the holiday season, I want to feel positive vibes, not people complaining about this or that.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Still trying to figure out LinkedIn

I’ve posted about this before.

Heck, the odds are I’ve posted about it more than once.

But in this world of social media, I tend to have two ways of looking at things – full privacy, or open like a book.

When it comes to platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, I am pretty open. Remember, though, because I work in public information/relations, I tend to watch what I say or post. I’m conditioned to think about every word I post. Sure, sometimes I might have a little more fun with things, but the idea is to make sure nothing you put in the public eye can come back to haunt you. It’s not worth it.

On the flip side, my Facebook is very private. I try and keep my friend’s list at a certain number and make sure it’s smaller. For me, Facebook is more about connecting with closer friends and family. I still don’t post controversial or stupid things as again, you never know what’s out there. But it’s more personal there.

My blog, as you know, is very public.

There are other social network platforms that I use that aren’t really anything I worry about when it comes to public and private.

But then there’s LinkedIn.

A professional social network, it’s one where people can connect on a different level. There are recruiters and companies posting about opportunities. Your resume is out there for people in your circle, so to speak, to see.

So how public or private should your LinkedIn be?

I’ve recently accepted a few invitations and have a few others. Is it something to allow co-workers in? Is it something to allow strangers (they could be recruiters) in? Do you add others friends and family hoping for connections?

It’s one of those things I continue to ponder with social media. How about those of you who have LinkedIn? Besides telling what you do with requests/adding people, how about explaining how you use the platform? I’d like to utilize it more and get the most out of it, if I am going to have it.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!