“18-year-old high school student, Ashley Billasano did not show up to Rosenberg’s BF Terry High School on Tuesday morning. She had taken her life the day before, after taking to her Twitter page to air out all of her personal demons. The young girl had allegedly been sexually abused by members of her family and received no justice for any of it. She posted 144 times over the course of 6 hours on her Twitter page, which has over 500 followers, explaining how she had been molested and forced into prostitution, before committing suicide. No one stopped her. Even after one of her final tweets stated, “I’d love to hear what you have to say but I wont be around.”” – www.therundown.tv
This story horrifies me. It also convicts me as to how I truly am using social media in this headline nation.
Do I ever take time to seek to read beyond the tweet? Do I look for signs in others by way of their tweet feed that might scream… “Somebody please listen!!!”??
I quoted recently that 50% of communication is listening. Frankly, I think it is a lot more.
If we are not giving ourselves time to listen on social media, then why would anyone want to spend time listening to us?
I talk about this in my class with regards to the humanization of social media and that we think social media can be a waste of time, yet sadly for her it was because too many of us were talking and not listening.
Now I am not placing blame on you, me, or anyone else. I am not even wanting to play the guilt card. However, what I am asking is this… how much listening do you do on social media? And when you do see something that stands out, do you ask the question?
Are you okay?
Do you realize the power those three words can be to someone like Ashley?
Sure, people can say all they want about how social media is fake and a waste of time. But, for those with ears to hear and eyes to see… it can be life saving. This is not some big sim game. For many, it is life or death and a cry out to somebody… anybody.
Do me a favor and take a long hard look at that picture of Ashley. Do you feel what I feel?
Be hope to somebody today by noticing them and listening to them. Who knows, in doing this, you might just save a life.
So true. What a great focus for us all to improve Gunnar
Thanks!! We are all in this together!! Thank you for being a great reflection of engagement, which takes the ability to listen. You have it!! Thanks!!
Yes we are. Teamwork no more of these examples!
Just to give you a flip side to this tragic story, so horrific to know she reached out and got no response. i have a facebook “friend” , never met her, didn’t know her from Adam, who occasionally gets overwhelmed with life, with due reason I might add. She is pretty open about all she is dealing with and will go into great detail. She has on a few occasions gone as far as to threaten suicide. From every corner of the US people who do not know her apart from FB have gone as far as to organize and gather info and brainstorm to the point of actually being able to find her and send 911 to her door. we have had all night sessions of communication to try to keep her focused, help her through things. she is now starting to get on a more even keel. Tiring, yes, intense, oh yes. but to know we made a difference… amazing. i am so sorry this young lady did not have a few people who could have rallied around her. so sad.
thanks for sharing this. so glad to hear that you were all listening and then acted accordingly. It is so sad about Ashley. It just rips my heart apart thinking about her 18 years of life.
“If we are not giving ourselves time to listen on social media, then why would anyone want to spend time listening to us?”
What a powerful question. One I will definitely ponder…
Thanks for this post Gunnar! It was really convicting for me. I know I spend a lot of time trying to be heard, but honestly is just hasn’t sat that well with me. I think this might be a huge component as to why!
Annie, thanks for sharing your thoughts. You are not alone. If give me much to pause too. This story has broken my heart since I first heard it earlier this year.
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I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t
Cheers!
know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you so much, However I am
experiencing problems with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anybody else getting identical RSS problems? Anyone who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanx!!
thanks for the post. This is actually the first I had heard of an RSS issue. I run mine pretty hands free through the wordpress.com site. Let me see. When you sign up with email, does that work?