In the 1970s I was a newspaper editor in Ripon, Wisconsin, a city of about 7,000 located between Milwaukee and Green Bay. It was one of the best jobs I ever had. On the one hand, there were breaking news stories that required immediate attention to make the press deadline. They required fast action and writing. All the pertinent facts were condensed in the first two or three sentences. These were hard news stories and there were no opinions permitted. Like detective Joe Friday from the TV show Dragnet would say, “Just the facts, mam.”

But we had a refreshing break from writing these hard news stories when editors or reporters would write their columns. These columns were personal opinion pieces in which the writer kicks back and reflects on the weekly happenings in his/her life or around town.

What I liked about writing a column is that I had time to put a lot of thought into it. Sometimes my thoughts came out quickly and I wrote them down immediately. However, I always put it on the shelf overnight and picked it up the next day to review. Without exception, there was always something to change or amend; a grammatical error to correct or a statement that wasn’t quite right. There may have even been something written that I would regret later.

In similar way, when writing poetry, I participated in a poetry class that was more of a poets’ critique workshop. Ten or so people came together to read their poems, pass them around and receive comments from the other aspiring poets. If any of these poems were ever published, I’m sure they were re-written or edited several times over.

So, what’s the point? The point is that thanks to social media sites, especially Twitter, we have gotten so far away from any kind of purposeful or constructive thinking before blaring out whatever’s on our minds. Everyone on the internet is a writer and “the” expect in their field. Everyone’s opinion is “the” opinion. Grammar, spelling and complete sentences—forget it!  See, even this writer does it!

There is a lot of good happening within social media. Many friends and families have shared their memories and celebrations through Facebook posts.  People around the world have communicated with each other and have been able to help neighbors in need. If only there was a way to screen out all the negative and the hurting posts and words. There should be a social media golden rule: “Post onto others as you would have posted onto you.”

This is why I have never been a fan of Twitter because it seems to encourage blasting out “publicly” whatever upsets you or makes you happy at the moment. In this way, we are captive to our emotions.

I’m certain that this is a key reason there is so much discontent among Americans. Sure, there is a wide political divide between the left and right, but putting politics aside, our society in general is too fast-acting. Let’s go back to the days when people took time to think before they said or, in particular, wrote something.