SOCIAL MEDIA AT CONGRESS: Forms and Decorum

A number of participants attending the Congress are already users of social media and social networking tools. We welcome that and the use of the internet's power to radiate basic goodness in a way that respects the tender spirit of open dialogue, trust, and respect that congress offers, which in turn allows people to speak from their hearts. So we encourage all Tweeters, Facebook updaters, and other media socialites to follow these forms and decorum.

At the beginning of congress, there will be an announcement inviting people to use social media, and also asking people to follow these forms and protocols. These guidelines will also be clearly communicated to the "Twitter-verse" through a customized design of www.twitter.com/shambhalatimes so the information is permanent, and will also be on the Shambhala Times Facebook page.

Qualities of Twitter

As with every tool in life, Twitter has benefits and limitations.

Benefits: Twitter is a tool through which Shambhala congress can radiate out. It is very much an expressive tool that people can use to share their personal experience.

Limitations: Twitter is not a tool that supports a process of going deep. It is not a conversation platform that supports the intimacy, trust, and deep reflection that is part of Shambhala congress.

Because of these limitations, we have creates these forms and decorum for using Twitter within the Shambhala congress container.

Forms and Decorum to Follow

• Please give presentations and discussions a chance to fully flower in your mind before broadcasting your experience -- please do not tweet, update your Facebook, or engage in social media during congress sessions. During all congress sessions, sit with your urge to tweet or record it in your notes to send later. At breaks in between sessions, you are welcome to use whatever social networks you wish on the basis of your direct experience.

• Please respect our atmosphere of trust and respect here in Halifax: do not refer to participants in the congress by name. This will ensure that everyone can relax into the container of confidentiality. So when you tweet or update your status, only broadcast your direct experience of what someone has said - communicating how their statement is meaningful to you.

• If someone on a social network has a suggestion or question that you think would be helpful to share in the congress discussions, please take responsibility for doing this at an appropriate moment. We encourage that you choose suggestions or questions that you personally identify with and can elaborate on from your own heart.

• Please do not use social media during the Abhiskeka and Tenshuk ceremonies

• Please contemplate the following slogan before tweeting:

I tweet for the benefit of beings. All tweets arise from my heart to penetrate confusion and express Great Eastern Sun vision. May my tweet aid in the establishment of enlightened society.

This slogan is posted by the media station at the back of the room, so please do refer to it if you need a refresher.

Social Media Reporter

To keep the greater mandala informed, and to support the stream on social media, we will have a reporter at the congress. Jennifer Holder, the content manager of the Shambhala Times, will be tweeting from a media station using the #shambhalacongress hashtag so that a discussion forum may evolve.