The "Virtual State Fair"

I've mentioned the current love affair news management has with social media. (Note: "Love affair", just a nice way to describe sick stalker-esque unhealthy obsession along the lines of Kathy Bates with a meat cleaver standing over James Caan's bed...  or tweens in line for Jonas Bros tickets.) 

So. You get the idea. 

Well, we got another reminder today to "get social", to get out and commune with the people online.  Fine. I've learned how to handle some of the creepier landmines and have gotten used to the idea of gettin' my social on.  But the reminder likened social media to a "virtual state fair". 

I am no professional motivator, but I would just like to give one bit of advice.  When asking someone to go balls-to-the-wall with any task such as the aforementioned festival of tweets ... do not, I repeat do NOT, liken the task to a state fair.

Hey folks, I love a fried oreo and a bucket of cheese curds as much as the next free-loading reporter. And I know I may offend a few fair lovers out there who like to roll the dice of life and saddle up on one of those rides operated by only the finest of dental and mental health.  But you know what? Even you folks don't want to be there everyday, right? Your odds run out eventually, and your immune system can only take so many food vendor violations.  And did I mention I made the mistake of walking by the "World's Fattest Pig" exhibit last time?  I'll take their word for it because it smelled just about how you'd imagine the World's Fattest Pig would smell.  Oh and usually, it's about 105 degrees which isn't doing the pig any favors ... or the rest of the crowd who usually is of the "deodorant is optional" persuasion.

All I'm saying is that I like a good old fashioned slice of Americana every now and then too... especially if it involves cheese curds.  (No seriously, you MUST have one).  But. I don't want to be there every day.  Neither do you.

So to the manager who thinks a "hey guys, it's not all that bad, it's just like a virtual state fair" reference will motivate a newsroom to "get social" ...

minus ten points for you.