I’m a crier.  It’s true. I cry often and freely; the plight of other people, the environment, and animals can induce tears.  Like many activists, my heart is big.  Inspiring messages, heartbreaking causes, and deeply felt emotions course through my veins.  There are good days – a nonprofit reaches its funding goal, and 10 more children will receive a free breakfast. (tear). And there are bad days – a baby dolphin covered in oil is found dead on a beach.

It seems like there are more bad days than good, in these tough economic times. It makes me want to tweet angrily at the world, why aren’t you more concerned, let’s just do something and stop standing here.

Then I think of the few gentle activists who made their points with civility, who stood up and advocated a cause without anger.  55 years ago today, Rosa Parks was asked to give up her seat and refused. She did not scream or shout or berate anyone, she did not threaten.  She had reason to be angry, certainly.

Activists who see the world with passionate zeal, who burn to make things better, are desperately needed in this country. It’s a frustrating, demanding, and often thankless job.  It’s a job for dreamers.  Unfortunately, dreams can be denied. They can be shelved during budget cuts.   And activists become sad, or disillusioned, or bitter.

Giv.to is an organization I’m proud to be a part of because we help organizations reach their fund-raising goals. We try to help our clients see that ‘acting out’ their frustration (however well-intentioned or understandable it might be) is never a good idea online.  We tell them that this is not only because the record of that misjudgment will spread in a nanosecond then last forever, but also it’s damaging to your credibility and it devalues the message itself.

What other guidance do we give our clients?  I think of them as the ABCs of Social Media Self Preservation:

1) Absolutely no name calling

2) Be considerate

3) Care passionately

4) Defend with Facts

…

Just these four cover a lot of ground, and following all 26 should (hopefully) keep activists out of major trouble.

-Rachelle