I’m not going to lie, the emergence of a snarky campus commentator online had me on the defensive. I’ve always thought of it as my lane and true calling, but I’ll oblige and allow the competition. Not everyone has been so understanding though, and for good reason.
Anonymity has its advantages, and there is potential for your group to do some good. Start conversations, go out there and disagree, bring some humour into a culture that can at its worst get a little too self-important. However, before the commentary is given, even before you start drafting the witty one-liners in your head, you have to know why you’re doing what you’re doing in the first place. We know what the dangers are, that an independent anonymous page gets a little too heated, too personal, and crosses that line between tough questions and bullying. Already we’re dealing with the toxic paranoia that comes along with trying to figure out who is behind it. The paranoia has people on edge, defensive, and annoyed. (Also, for the record, it’s not me; it would take too much effort and Andy Kaufman levels of commitment — also, I’d assuredly be funnier.)
I’m not writing you off just yet, I just wanted to give some advice. It’s free, and completely up to you on how you want to take it or respond — I’m not an authority on winning over friends (or voters). Building bridges is a lucrative trade, the secret of it being that contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to use the same material or plans when you meet in the middle. What matters more is intention. Burning bridges is easy, but having trust in a person or group’s intentions means you can acknowledge why their actions might be disagreeable, but they as people can still be people. We all make mistakes, say the wrong things, and upload out-of-date professional documents. (My accountant hates me.) You have the opportunity to tackle real arguments, to take positions that incite conversation, or wake us up to something we aren’t seeing. Take on the union, the paper, the station, and the university. Go for an artery, not just a nitpick. Some will tell you it can be done without the mask, I don’t really see how it matters. Public discussion and pressure can be just as worthwhile as face-to-face meetings, which more often than not accomplish less than email and serve only to build the illusion of something happening. That’s up to you though, that’s only what my understanding of the Toque’s history as independent news tells me you want to do.
On the other hand, you could be here solely for the memes. In that case, I ask that you keep things fair; there are real people on the other end of the screen. Maybe you can help get UFV Confessions back off the ground, that would be hilarious. Most importantly however, my advice if you go this route, is this — the memes must be danker. It’s 2016, people don’t even remember who Xzibit is.
