One month ago The Joplin Globe hopped on the Facebook bandwagon.
Since Sept. 4, we have managed to rack up more than 550 fans of our news, opinion, lifestyle and entertainment feed. Newspapers, television networks and radio stations around the country are using the fast-growing social network to reach out to those hungry for news and a little social interaction. So far, our foray into social networking seems to be going well. Combine our Twitter followers and Facebook fans and we are interacting with almost 1,000 folks every day who are getting their news using tools that weren’t even available a couple of years ago. Some say that Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and the countless other social media sites on the Web are just a passing fancy. They may be right. The names of the social media outlets may change, but the concept of online communities that allow friends to interact in real time and exchange news and views is, I believe, here to stay.
Last week, we posed this question to our fans on Facebook: What you think of presidential efforts to bring the Olympics to Chicago in 2016?
The question elicited a very civil back-and-forth, unlike the often less than civil exchanges in our story forum at joplinglobe.com. Since you can’t post comments anonymously on Facebook, like you can in the comments forum, people there may be less likely to insult and verbally assault other members of the online community.
Then again, we’re just getting started.
“Of course it is. It would stimulate the economy on a national level.”
— Lance O.
“I think since they have never been in South America, let them have it in Rio. Illinois and the United States do not need the added burden of expenses that go with the games right now. Realizing that there is profit at the end of the rainbow, normally, I still believe that we need to worry about the here and now and focus on more important issues.”
— Glenn H.
“I sympathize with South America with the fact that they never held the Olympics, but then my national pride kicks in and is hoping that President Obama will be able to bring the games to the U.S.!”
— Adam G.
“I don’t think it will be a bad idea as it’s only one day and it could be a boost to the economy. Really don’t think Chicago is the best showcase of American cities with its crime rate.”
— Tommy C.
“I think the revenue that could be produced for the United States is much needed. It would create jobs, an influx of travelers that would spend their money helping to stimulate our economy.”
— Erica M.
“The revenue from the event would be great, but even better is all the jobs created for the preparation.”
— Paul P.
“I don't really care but I’m sure if it happens I will go.”
— Amy A.
“I’m with Glenn. Let Rio have it this time.”
— Steve B.
“I hope we get the Olympics. I have always wanted to go and it would be only eight hours from Joplin!”
— Phaedra E.
“I think the president should focus on the important issues that we have going on right now instead of worrying about something that might stimulate the economy for a little while. He could be focusing on objectives that would stimulate our economy longer than a few months.”
— Robyn B.
“After hearing yesterday about a school child beaten to death while walking home from a Chicago school, and that being the fourth student killed in such a way since school stated, I think Chicago should be focusing on matters other than the Olympics.”
— Becky D.
“Is someone trying to tell me the Olympics is not an important event? Tony Blair went to the same type of meeting to pitch his nation as the Olympic host. Barack Obama and the City of Chicago have every right to focus on this matter. I think the president is paying attention to a multitude of matters — the war in Afghanistan, the fight to provide national health care for everyone, economic recovery and more. And, Chicago should definitely be concerned about the city’s schoolchildren. We all should be.”
— Stephen S.
“I love the either/or approach: Worry about the schoolchildren OR the Olympics. I’m sure it’s quite impossible to do both.”
— Lance O.
Dave Woods is new media editor at The Joplin Globe.
