This just in: In an unusual development firefighter criticized by STATter911.com readers doesn't get defensive. Really. A follow up to a column about calling the citizens 'assholes'.
There is a definite pattern to the interaction between those posting comments on STATter911.com (and most other Internet forums) that I am not very fond of. Almost always there's a tipping point where the discussion turns toxic with nasty remarks back and forth over who has the biggest hose. Even when the digital conversation is a good, healthy one, with a thoughtful exchange of ideas, at some point it seems to turn personal and ugly. Many times that happens when someone connected to the department that is the subject of a a video or news article becomes defensive and lashes out.
I am extremely happy to report on one recent case where that did not happen.That was last Wednesday's post titled- Communicating with the public: Fire department Facebook rant chews out ‘asshole’ drivers. We would all like to do this, but should we?. The column was my analysis of a post on the official Facebook page of the Ladd Fire Department in Illinois where a lieutenant quite bluntly took some drivers to task who decided to go the wrong way on the shoulder of an Interstate Highway to avoid a traffic jam caused by a serious wreck. The post included the use of a common four letter word and referred to selfish drivers as "assholes".
Making it clear that I would never suggest or encourage a department to handle official communications with the public in that manner, I also noted that no one in that community was complaining about the language or the chastising of the drivers. In fact there was unanimous support in the 30 comments posted at that time on Facebook. In addition, it caught the attention of a local paper. The paper then wrote an article that focused on trying to get the message to motorists about this type of selfish behavior.
With a couple of minor exceptions, the discussion on this issue on STATter911.com seemed very respectful. Even some of those who had strong opinions about what was right or wrong could see the other side. And one of those who responded on Thursday was the man who wrote the Facebook post in question, Lt. Dan Englehaupt of the Ladd Fire Department.
It was quite refreshing reading what he had to say. Instead of attacking his critics and taking a knee jerk defensive position, Lt. Englehaupt acknowledged, despite the support he had and the success in getting his message in the local media, there was probably a better way to get his point across and decided to edit his original post on Facebook.
Lt. Englehaupt even acknowledged that the discussion here helped him look at what he wrote in a different light. That kind of positive response is such a rare occurrence I decided it needed to be seen beyond the comments section and have reposted it below (with Lt. Englehaupt's permission):
Wow, this is some good discussion. I happen to be the individual who posted the picture with that caption. While I will agree with those who feel it was inappropriate, I will also say that this is by far not an uncommon occurrence and quite possibly, my emotion go the best of me. Would it have been ideal to have a pad and pen ready to try and write down all the license plate numbers? Yes, probably. But, as the Chief and I were in and out of the truck ourselves during this trek trying to get drivers to move so those who decide to turn and go the wrong way could move over and let us by, that wasn't the first thing on my mind. The 3 seconds it took to take this picture was about all the time we had. Would it have been a better idea to go to the next exit? No, without going into a long, confusing word picture as to the layout of I-80 in this area, it wasn't possible. Trust me when I tell you, if there was a different way, we would have taken it. Construction of this part of I-80 has been on-going over the last two years and quite honestly, it's a dangerous place when there is no construction at all, let alone when it's done to one lane in either direction. Maybe some of that frustration had been implied in the caption I applied as well.
With all that said, I have edited the caption as I too have realized it was unprofessional and not proper for an officer. I think if you look through our Facebook Page, you will see this is an isolated incident in regards to "poor verbiage choice" on my part. Maybe not, but I would contend, it is clean and family friendly, so to speak, otherwise. I apologize to those who felt offended or disagreed. Obviously I would hate to send the wrong message, or at least the right message with the wrong words. So, I appreciate all the discussion and thoughts. I would also like to say thanks to all of you for stopping in to check us out, way out in the middle of Illinois. I would also like to say thanks to Mr. Statter for the enlightening discussion.
