In social networking, 'unfriending' is popular option when coversation turns unfriendly

Lifestyle feature for The Commercial Appeal

June 5, 2010

Virginia Ivy, former Memphian and current resident of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas, was raised with true Southern manners to believe that it is in poor taste to discuss politics, religion or money in social situations that are not specifically geared to those conversations.

"I started out on Facebook posting my political positions, but have since weaned off of it since I do not appreciate others' opinions opposite of mine when I am logging on for social stress relief," said the 39-year-old virtual manager for a New York corporate travel agency. "I un-friend people who post or link to hateful things."

Debate swirls over privacy concerns and information sharing on Facebook, but navigating the social network also leads to other questions, including those of etiquette -- what to talk about and how much to talk about it.

Certainly there is a decorum to be followed in face-to-face social situations, whether a dinner party, play date or actual date, but what of the fairly faceless medium of social media? Do the same rules apply and to what outcome? ... (read more)

Political scientist is always up for debate

My Profession profile for The Commercial Appeal

December 10, 2009

There is no debating that the Rhodes College mock trial team is one of the best of its kind in the country.

The team holds the record for most consecutive Final 48 (that's mock trial's equivalent to the Final Four) appearances at 23 straight years.

At the helm of this team for exactly that many years is political science professor Dr. Marcus Pohlmann.

Originally from Davenport, Iowa, Pohlmann did his undergraduate work at Cornell College and graduate work at Columbia University. Having spent more than two decades at Rhodes, though, he considers himself a Memphian and, as a political scientist, appreciates the political show here and its accessibility.

"I know Willie Herenton, I know A C Wharton, I run into them at restaurants," Pohlmann said. "You can't say that in every city, that you can have that kind of access to the players." ... (read more)

Think of our kids' future when voting

"Because I Said So" column for The Commercial Appeal

October 15, 2009

It is such an auspicious week, with Memphis on the verge of change, that I decided I should sit down and talk it over with my kids. I wanted to ensure they grasped the auspiciousness, so, to be certain, I looked up what "auspicious" means before sitting them down at the family table.

These kids usually have trouble grasping bedtime, yet I had faith that the transforming days ahead would register with them.

"I have something important, something of a civic nature I'd like to discuss with you today," I said.

At this point, my three older children stood and left the room, leaving me with 3-year-old Genevieve at the far end of the table.

"It's just us then," I said.

She folded her newspaper down, obviously upset that I'd taken her away from Geoff Calkins and Wendi Thomas, the only two columns she reads.

"Pardon?" she said.

I told her that there are things going on in this city that she, even at her age, should pay attention to. There are characters on the civic stage this week who deserve attention and have the ability to thrust Memphis into a national spotlight.

The ensuing dialogue went something like this: ... (read more)

New book continues D'Army Bailey's mission of civil rights education

Feature profile for The Commercial Appeal

September 26, 2009

D'Army Bailey grew up enveloped in family and in the shadow of LeMoyne College, at the time a black college working primarily to train teachers.

The LeMoyne Gardens housing project bordered one side of his world and his entrepreneurial and independent grandfather the other. This was the alchemy that helped to create the D'Army Bailey of today -- lawyer, judge, activist, father, husband and author.

He learned of racial strife early, listening to people talk at the neighborhood sundry and reading black publications of the day, such as the Chicago Defender, the Atlanta Daily World and the Pittsburgh Courier.

"I'd sit about and read the various black newspapers from around the country that came into this store, and it enhanced my view and sense of politics and civil rights," he said ... (read more)

Lessons about hate are sadly inevitable

"Because I Said So" column for The Commercial Appeal

May 28, 2009

Earlier this week a press conference was held to speak out against proposed legislation to protect county employees against discrimination based on their sexual proclivities. Black ministers came together with white commissioners, which is something that happens in this town, well, almost never.

So that's good, right? I can point that out to my children and say "See? There is racial harmony in Memphis, despite what you hear on the news and read in the papers every single day."

And then when they ask why these two radically different groups came together, I'll say, "Well, because they both hate gay people." Not that these leaders are concerned about the rampant violent crimes in our city or about the education of the youth of our city, but that the spirit of union was displayed to speak out against a segment of our society that they deem to be different ... (read more)

Out of the Shadows

Feature story for the May-August 2009 ArtsMemphis Magazine

I was asked to write the story of "Crowds in the Shadows," a photographic exhibit recalling the brutal dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in Chile from 1973 to 1990. The exhibit is for the Museo de la Memoria in Santiago, Chile, but is due to be on display at the National Civil Rights Museum in May of 2009.

My piece tells the story of Marcia Scantlebury Elizalde, the director of the Museo de la Memoria, and a political prisoner under Pinochet. I interviewed Ms. Scantlebury with the aid of translator Juan Fuentes, who was instrumental, not just with the writing of this story, but understanding the climate of Chile at the time of the coup.

There is not a modern country whose civilized exterior doesn't shroud a grotesque history of uncivilized behavior between oppressor and oppressed. But if a country's people are its heart, and culture its soul, then its government and institutions should reflect its conscience. Chile's Museo de la Memoria y Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights) will do just that ...

On the job, coworkers hesitant to talk politics

2008 presidential election coverage for The Commercial Appeal.

November 3, 2008.

The office water cooler by all accounts should be boiling over. More than Tigers vs. Rebels, more than young Elvis vs. old Elvis, more, even, than Willie vs. City Council, this year's presidential race has had the potential of pulling people together in conversation and ripping them apart in debate.

It's one thing to be open online, where tempers and tones can remain hidden, couched in parenthetical asides and emoticons. On Web sites and blogs, the talk starts placidly enough, then begins to swell and bubble until the nameless medium of e-mail becomes vitriolic ... (read more)