Many of you probably read my article last week on the parody Twitter accounts of Elizabethtown College. These accounts include Etown Confessions and the new Etown Creep account. I brought up how degrading some of the posts on Etown Confessions are and the legality of what the Etown Creep was doing. While I received praise for the article, I also received some criticism. Some loved that I was straightforward and honest with my opinion, while others felt that I was too harsh. Anyone who knows me well can say that I tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. I also apply this to my writing.
Those running the Etown Confessions actually sent me an email explaining their point of view. What caught me off guard was that it was the most diplomatic thing I have ever read. The anonymous team defended their account with dignity and respect. They said, “We, as a team, do not represent the College’s moral standards. We are just another account that is there for social media entertainment of the students.” They also know why some consider several of the posts offensive. They also want to make clear that they have nothing to do with the writing or the composition of the confessions. “Even though we are posting the tweets, it’s the Etown body and students who are submitting them.”
While I originally thought that Etown Confessions would post anything that they receive, they actually have censored several of the posts. “We have refrained from posting many things that would further incriminate the students here.” That makes me wonder what else students were sending into the site. I have heard some crazy things from people on campus, but it is difficult to imagine the things that Etown Confessions refused to post onto their account.
They also pointed out to me that I failed to offer any solutions on how to make the account a friendlier site for students. If anything, I became part of what I was fighting against because I seemed too harsh. The only way to progress is to offer solutions to solve any problems that one might face. Fortunately, Etown Confessions helped me make that realization.
The most crucial ways to make Etown Confessions more user-friendly is for students to avoid posting passive-aggressive statements. Confessions that use the names of students and call out groups of people on campus make them personal attacks. These have the potential to hurt others or to start several altercations between students. Some of the confessions I find hilarious because they are short, sweet and to the point; they are not personal. I strongly believe that if the site were more selective on what they decide to post, students would focus on making the posts funny, rather than passive aggressive. But the bottom line is people should think about their actions before they make them. If one finds it too difficult to follow the golden rule, they should at least follow Confucius’ silver rule: Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.
I am sure Etown Confessions would also appreciate feedback from the student body. Was I too critical of them? Are the posts too offensive? Are the posts funny? That is for you to decide.
