Barr none - social media is a very dangerous thing

I'm not sure social media is not going to be the death of all of us.

Take it from someone who spends an inordinate amount of time swimming in this online and tech world every day.

Think very carefully before you hit that send button.

In the time it takes to blink your eyes, your world can be turned upside down.

Don't believe me?

Ask Roseanne Barr.

Or Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo.

Roseanne first. Her career imploded after an especially ugly Tweet early Tuesday that compared former Obama Administration adviser Valerie Jarett in a particularly ugly, racist way.

So what did she say?

She indicated the woman was the result of the union of the Muslim Brotherhood and 'Planet of the Apes.'

Yes, she actually said that. Or at least tweeted it.

I find it hard to believe that today people would not see this was probably not a good idea.

It's ugly. It's racist.

In other words, in so many parts of the online world, it should have felt right at home.

It did not.

A conflagration quickly ensued.

ABC cancelled Barr's hit reboot of her show, the top-rated show on TV this past season.

The show rocketed to the top of the ratings in part on Roseanne's depiction of a Trump supporter.

And yes, many of those same fans were quick to go online themselves to defend after she was dumped by the network.

After initially indicating she was quitting Twitter, Roseanne was back at it overnight, asking her defenders not to support what she said and indicating she was on Ambien at the time she composed it.

This is not the first dance for Barr down this path. ABC knew what it was getting when they hired her and decided to do a remake on her famous show.

* Then there is Sixers' team president Bryan Colangelo. A story exploded yesterday indicating he has been using a string of so-called "burner" Twitter accounts that ripped some of his own players, including star player Joel Embiid, and other NBA officials.

Colangelo is denying the report, while admitting that he did use at least one of the accounts, but only to monitor NBA news. Expect to hear a lot more about this one today.

* Social media is a powerful thing.

I've been on both sides of this issue.

I know how useful it is in quickly disseminating information.

I also know what it's like when the 'Twitterverse' decides to turn on you. It's not a pleasant experience.

For some reason, more than 6,700 people follow my Twitter feed. My hope is that is because they trust me to report what is going on and like my other musings on life.

But make no mistake.

I know how dangerous this keyboard can be.

It can change your life in a minute.

Our world is now ruled with short bursts of 140 characters (or whatever the hell the limit is on Twitter today.)

Just be careful where you are aiming. And always - ALWAYS - think twice before pulling the trigger.

You might do much more than shoot yourself in the foot.

You just might expose yourself for who you truly are.

And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.

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