"ALS misunderstanding" shows merciless power of social media

10-08-2015 22:05
Only two tweets were there for necessary to unleash a veritable manhunt for the Bloemendaal beach bar owner who is an ALS patient would have turned away from the terrace because he could not order anything.
 
Despite the 'misunderstanding', donating the daily output of 16,666 euros and accepted apologies from the victim, he is with his family now police protection because of serious threats. A confrontation with the inexorable power of social media.
 
After the twitter account of Dilbert with 60,000 followers had asked the question on Twitter to denounce the story went this weekend frantically around. On Twitter, people called for a boycott of the beach bar, or a silent protest. Posters on the boards of the beach club were stuck with the text "ALS patients are not welcome here." The owner of the beach club was deeply reviled.
 
Extremely painful, says media psychologist Mischa Coster. ,, Someone who is seriously ill soon gets - and usually rightly - public sympathy. Especially when it is a incurable disease like ALS is that right has been through the Ice Bucket Challege heavily in the news and has been known by many. That of course does not mean that every story has several sides. "
 
It can go fast. ,, Initially react people used to give their opinion. Then reach these reactions, the people who had formed an opinion but these usually do not express on social media. The reactions of the first group, they can then see a 'approval' to also share their opinions online. When the critical mass is large enough go most doubters and that is where the story is going viral. "
 
Witch-hunt
The noise also eluded journalist Lammert de Bruin not, which can be heard weekdays on NPO Radio 1 in the section Trending Today. Twitter ,, sometimes acts as a medieval town square and can sometimes unleash a witch hunt. When the issue of beach tent Parnassiapark I also asked me first whether it was not a misunderstanding. When I later saw examples of incidents at the same thing, with the same boss, I saw how bad it was. I saw a mirror hanging in the female toilets where women arise, but where on the other side of the mirror the men's restroom. The men that women can just see. Then all those examples were together for something greater. "
 
The journalist was with 7,000 followers on Twitter (lammert) aware of the influence he has on the social platform. ,, It allows me not to get in the way to say what I think or I think the issue with Parnassiapark I deliberately do not twittered a few hours because I wanted to know how it really SAT. Then I go for example online looking for more information. A mistake is easily made on Twitter and by the speed of the medium sometimes lacked nuance. Al hears that a bit. There is a kind of eagerness that you sometimes reluctant to be. "
 
The outrage among tweeters on the treatment of ALS patient According to De Bruin be sincere. ,, A lot of the tweeters is really not out to close the case. But Twitter can be really heartless. "That's pretty scary, according to the journalist. ,, For you or me may be the next one to do something wrong."
 
Chan Teren
Nowadays it is very fast. Something goes wrong, you throw it on social media and reach many more people than opinions or ten years ago. Finally ,, a big advantage, "concludes social media expert Jarno Duursma. ,, In a conflict between business and consumer is no longer a Wellis or nietes game that ends in something legal. Social media offers us a platform to meet consumer to expose what is not right or crooked. Companies have to respond and be customer focused. More and more people are discovering the power of social or new media. Companies can be their advantage of it. By far positive, but it's not that the negative thus falls away. "
 
He continues: ,, This means compels companies to provide a good product or good service, which is also a lot of businesses since the advent of social media have improved enormously. The downside is that people can sue under the belt. So I spoke to someone who was being blackmailed in his own shop. He had to give a customer a discount, otherwise he would get a nasty review. An unpleasant incident, but that does not in any way challenge the positive power of social media. "
 
Sympathetic
According to experts, the beach club owner has responded well to the commotion by donating its daily output to the ALS Foundation. Jarno Duursma says sackcloth attract the best. ,, The donation is sympathetic. Thus, you indicate that there was an undesirable situation. Nice is also that the twitter account Dilbert, where it began, this also shared. "
 
The man also had to prove that it was true that he says he sent the ALS patient from the terrace, set media psychologist Coster. ,, Often a more nuanced discussion. If there is a default rule that something eaten on the terrace or have to be drunk to take place there, then I can the first reaction of the staff proposals. Of course they did by to ask, but I wonder if you can pull through this just bad for business. "
 
Fires
According to Coster remains the damage is limited to the beach club owner. ,, The stories can deduce that it was not intended to send a customer off the terrace because of an illness. Such incidents usually only stay two to three days really visible on social media. Then the story will linger at about 10 to 15 percent of people. And then they probably do not even know how good or how hot the beach club owner looks like. "
 
ad.nl/ Blackbird Schut and Simone Zwienen / terrace Pavilion Parnassiapark is packed with sunbathers © Archive Photo ANP, 2005.
 
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