How to Talk About Theatre Issues On Social Media

This was originally published in the OnStage Blog Newsletter on 7/7/2022

Greg Ehrhardt, OnStage Blog Editorial Staff

I often think about one of the famous lines from The Simpsons “Alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems”, especially when it comes to social media.

Social media changed our lives forever, for good and for ill. I won’t bore you with a laundry list of the pros and cons of social media, but suffice it to say, one of the big cons is how people argue about the issues on these platforms.

I have a good friend who is one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet, but whose vocabulary resembles Tommy Devito when she engages in political arguments on Facebook.

Some people think social media, like alcohol, reveals who you actually are. I disagree with this on both counts, but let’s stick to social media.

Social media enthusiasts talk about how you connect with people on these platforms more than ever before, but in reality, you’re not talking to a person, you’re talking to a screen, and sometimes a wall.

You’re just going to talk differently when you’re talking to a screen versus talking face to face.

A screen never talks back, never makes bug eyes, never reacts. In a way, it is a safe way to get your thoughts out without fear of how your thoughts would affect others.

But in the same way, without that fear, people inevitably turn nasty with their words, hurting others way more than they would ever do in person. You never see the person’s reactions when you press enter on your keyboard or phone.

In person, it is a conversation (or at least it should be). Online, it is a series of monologues disguised as a conversation.

This type of conversation is not generally healthy. Conversation involves listening as well as speaking.

This is not to say we shouldn’t talk about the issues that matter most to us on social media, especially when it comes to theatre issues like BIPOC representation on Broadway, unsafe work environments in theatre, transsexual rights, and many other political issues that directly affect theatre performers and fans.

But it is to say we should do it respectfully, healthily, and kindly.

How do we do this? A full answer would take thousands of words, but let’s boil it down to a few key principles:

1) Spar, don’t fight

The idea should not be to pulverize your opponent. You want them to get up off the floor, and more importantly, walk away from it thinking they maybe learned something. You don’t want them thinking their opponent wants you dead.

2) Inform, don’t lecture

No one wants to be lectured, not even college students who voluntarily sign up for lecture classes. People want to learn, not to be preached to.

3) Be funny, don’t be sarcastic

I personally love sarcasm, but sarcasm can be a tough thing to translate on social media. Instead, make a joke. If you get them to laugh, they are more open to ideas than making them angry.

4) If the person you are debating with doesn’t follow the first 3 principles, walk away; it is ok to not have the last word.

I can’t stress this one enough. Getting the last word often is a circular exercise, because everyone always wants the last word. If the debate isn’t respectful, speak with silence instead of words. Its the most impactful thing you can do.

Ultimately, we want to inform others of our perspective on the issue. Insults, yelling, and ad hominem attacks do nothing but shut the other person’s ear off.

Persuading requires the other person’s ears to be open. Some of that is on them, but some of it is on you too.

Let’s do our part to keep as many ears open as possible.