Bad things often bring about more bad things.
It's a simple rule, and it's often depressingly well-illustrated on social media during an emergency or disaster.
As the tragic hostage situation took place in Sydney yesterday, a few things were tweeted that should have perhaps been left unsaid. Put them to down to naivety or stupidity, they're things that probably shouldn't have happened.
Here are three Twitter faux pas from yesterday:
Laurel Papworth
According to her Twitter profile, Laurel Papworth teaches social media at the University of Sydney. Her profile also mentions Papworth enjoys World of Warcraft.
Yesterday, in between tweeting about "Daily News of Financial Services Australia" and "Email marketing as Easy as Webmail", she tweeted this clanger:
Where is the social media manager for @LindtCafeAus :( :( #MartinPlace
— Laurel Papworth (@SilkCharm) December 14, 2014
I don't think she was making a bad joke. There is a chance she was concerned about the safety of the social media manager.
But it was a clanger, and no proper clarity followed. Well, two hours later we got this:
I hope they are ok :(
— Laurel Papworth (@SilkCharm) December 15, 2014
And this:
I still want to know - who is the community manager for Lindt & are they ok? Read what you want into that but does anyone know?
— Laurel Papworth (@SilkCharm) December 15, 2014
Which didn't really help matters much. What did she want, an update on chocolate sales?
Uber
Uber Sydney let us know that fares were increasing.
We are all concerned with events in CBD. Fares have increased to encourage more drivers to come online & pick up passengers in the area.
— Uber Sydney (@Uber_Sydney) December 15, 2014
At first glance this doesn't seem all that unusual. During times of demand, Uber fares go up. This is annoying, but it isn't a shock.
But is a minimum fare of $100 to "encourage more drivers to come" a great move?
In the past, Uber's CEO Travis Kalanick said pricing would be "capped" during "relevant states of emergency" in the United States. What about the rest of the world, Uber?
To Uber's credit, they then responded with this about 32 minutes later - perhaps realising how their earlier tweet read:
Uber rides out of the CBD today are free for all riders to help Sydneysiders get home safely. See http://t.co/UIwoom25Bm for more info.
— Uber Sydney (@Uber_Sydney) December 15, 2014
Celebrity Prayers
Maybe this is unfair. They're probably just kids tweeting.
Maybe this is how kids deal with problems in 2014.
Maybe Harry Styles and Justin Bieber's prayers to God will help. But I highly doubt it.
@justinbieber justin please send your prayers to us people in Sydney Australia witnessing this happening right now pic.twitter.com/uztUd6EqgW
— MAAAREEE (@mareejb) December 15, 2014
@Harry_Styles there is a hostage taking place in sydney. please pray for aus
— mcdreamy (@drmcdreamy67) December 15, 2014
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