Complaining Vs. Doing

Prior to Social Media and the ability for anyone to be a publisher, all individuals could really do is complain if they didn’t like what was taking place in the media. Well, it’s time to wake up and realize that times have changed.

There have been multiple instances (who are we kidding, it happens all of the time in places like Twitter, Facebook and in the comment section of Blogs) where individuals complain about the content. You won’t have to troll too far to read statements from people who are making recommendations about everything from the use of language on a Blog or Podcast to who the creator of the content is to the very nature of the conversation that takes place within the community. There’s nothing wrong with additional perspective, dissent, or adding color to a conversation. But, in the end, if you don’t like what’s taking place, all you have to do is start your own.

Yes, start your own. You can now do something about it.

In the old days (about a half decade ago) you were powerless. If you felt a talk radio program needed more of a female perspective, or if you felt that the voice of the African-American in the editorial section of a newspaper was missing, complaining about it was about all you could (some brave enough souls may have built up enough steam to start a movement for change). In 2010 (and it’s been like this for well over five years now), you can change that by creating the type of content you like or that you feel is missing or that you feel might add value to the community as a whole. You can do this in words, images, audio and video and – on top of it all – you can publish it instantly (and for free) for the whole world to hear, connect and comment on.

Death to the armchair quarterback.

You won’t be shocked to hear that it’s easy to complain, but it’s really hard to do something about it. The truth is, Social Media actually makes it really easy (in fact, simple) to do something about it. The sad reality is that most people will not. They’ll simply complain (human nature is hard to change). Being critical is an important (err… critical) part of these online conversations. Criticism usually encourages those who are creating the content to take a step back and think deeper about what they can do to make their community better, but it can now go a little further. In fact, it can go a whole lot further than ever before.

Do you have what it takes?

Knowledge, passion, commitment, persistence, patience and a plethora of other words is what it takes to get the job done. It’s all out there, and it’s ready and waiting for you to add your voice. You no longer have to complain and moan that things are not equal (or the way you perceive that they should be). You can do something about it, instead of just complaining. How often do you a see a comment in a Blog post that reads something like: "I think you are so far off base and because I do, I have just launched a Blog to share with you (and the world) a whole new, different and fresh perspective that is sorely missing from these online channels."

I don’t know about you, but that would make my day. It would be a welcome addition. It would also (probably) reshape the landscape of the Internet as well. That’s something we’re all constantly striving for together.

So, are you just going to complain about the way things are or are you going to do something about it?