For this paper I have chosen
Scenario 3. I have chosen a topic that I feel there is a lot of judgement
toward and how social media can turn the emotions of readers. This post was my
response to children being left in hot vehicles and the judgement that
followed. I felt that not everyone guilty of this act were bad people. It is my
opinion that good people make mistakes. The title of this blog post is “Not all
of us are an Expletive #@!#@!” This is my personal account of leaving my child
in the hot car completely by mistake. http://freeingthevoiceswithin.blogspot.com/2014/07/not-all-of-us-are-expletitive.html.
This is an example of how social media and the news media
outlet can take an issue and blow it up into a tidal wave of either praise or
judgement. This is one of the subjects that people are very quick to jump on a
band wagon of persecution without a fair trial. I am a social media junkie. I
read all the headlines and most of what is trending, but I try not to comment
very often. But this is frowned upon now, plus all vehicles come standard with
air conditioning, so windows are rarely rolled down.
During my research the common denominator for
children being left in hot cars began with a routine change. This is also what
happened to me. I was a mother to three children, it was my youngest I left in
the car. I found an article from Parents magazine that told the story of three
parents who had left children in hot cars. Two of the children passed away on
one was okay. But all three of the parents were devastated and stated that
there was a change of routine on the day it happened.
I
found it interesting that this is a relatively new problem. From 1990 to 1992
there were only 11 reported deaths of children from heatstroke caused by being
left in a hot car. This is before there were airbags. After this the car seats
were moved to the back seat to protect children. In 1995 there were 63 child
air bag deaths. Kids are safer in the backseat, but they are also in more
danger in the backseat, especially when they are under age two.
Fast
forward to a time of rear-facing seats, tinted windows, standard air
conditioning in the vehicles, and technology. We as adults tend to be more
distracted. Many moms are constantly shuttling kids from point A to point B and
home. There is homework to be done, supper to be cooked, and baths to be given.
And running in the background is technology. When one parent’s mistake of
leaving a child in a hot car unattended and the media gets wind of it, it isn’t
long before it is trending on social media. Once it hits social media it’s a
dart board of judgement. It makes me cringe at what people will write about a
person they have never met. A situation that they know nothing about. The
commenter always has all the answers for a perfect world/scenario. But real
like isn’t like what you can find written in the comments. This is how I came
upon the title and the idea for my blog post in July of 2014.
According
to Dr. Diamond there are two different parts of the brain at work all of the
time. The basal-ganglia is the “background system” that also controls your
habits. When you do an action over and over the action becomes automatic and is
controlled by the basal-ganglia. The frontal cortex and the hippocampus is the
part of the brain that controls new information. The frontal cortex and the
hippocampus compete with the basal-ganglia. When learning a new task or do
something different then the frontal cortex and the hippocampus must override
the basal-ganglia’s strong desire to perform duties or tasks out of habit.
Once this type of story trends on
social media there is no escaping it. The story will trend for a week or longer
then go away, only to be re-shared or brought back to the forefront by a
similar case. It is easy for people to hide behind the internet and make
scathing remarks about someone with no fear of retaliation.
It
is important to be vigilant when you have small children with you in the car.
Even though I did leave my nursing cover and my wallet in the backseat with my
daughter, I still forgot her. I have heard that you can leave one shoe in the
backseat, or your cellphone. The article in Parent’s magazine suggested your
briefcase or your purse. They also said to have a plan in place for a change of
routine. You can call the childcare center and let them know you will or will
not be bringing your child, and if you are bringing the child, but don’t show
up, you can have them call you. You may also call the spouse that is dropping
off the child and make sure they remember to do so. Another idea could be a practice run if there
is going to be a change of routine. It could be a fun ride for the kids on a
lazy Saturday afternoon. Load everyone in the car and drive through the new
routine to back up the learning of a new routine process.
The
other important thing to remember about social media is that anyone can find
out about you through Google. It is not uncommon for prospective employers to
look up your Facebook or Instagram and Twitter accounts. My rule of thumb is
post exactly what I would normally share with friends and family. When I shared
the link to my original blog post I only received a few comments from close
friends. Most were surprised at how low I had felt about myself and my
situation at that time. It was confusing to me how someone could say to my face
that accidents happen and it is okay because my daughter was fine, but that
same person could bash and slander a person they never met for the exact same
mistake.
The
fact that I have this blog post of my personal experience could hurt me one day
if I were to ever apply to drive a daycare van and they came across the blog
post. They might read it and thing I’m negligent. Unfortunately social media
isn’t going anywhere and this issue will only get worse.
REFERENCES:
http://www.parents.com/baby/safety/car/danger-of-hot-car-for-children/
Andrea Birch for Parent’s Magazine. Article originally posted June 2014
http://freeingthevoiceswithin.blogspot.com/2014/07/not-all-of-us-are-expletitive.html
Bonnie Manjarrez July 2014
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