(Editor's Note: Francis Dutton will be writing a series of 6 guest columns on a variety of Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) topics, from the perspective of a contest organizer, and a KCBS Master BBQ Judge. This is the fifth column in the series. Enjoy!)
Social Media is a very powerful way for businesses and people to connect with their target audience. When used correctly, social media is an asset for businesses, personal brands and individuals. However, social media used in the wrong way can lead to severe reputation damage. Including damage to ones personal reputation.
As we know there are many varieties of social media. Facebook, Instagram, Blogs, Tik-Tok and many others. I want this article to focus primarily on Facebook.
The use of “Social Media” is and can be a very slippery slope for BBQ Judges. I currently belong to two of the biggest BBQ Judge pages on Facebook.
Official KCBS Certified BBQ Judges (The header is a picture of a turn-in box of chicken) & KCBS Certified BBQ Judges (The header is picture of the American Flag with the BBQ Oath).
BBQ judges regularly use these Facebook pages to talk about a myriad of different topics, ideas, questions and state opinions on the BBQ judging process or about decisions and information set down by the Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS). When using Facebook, judges must be very mindful on how to correctly use these pages to start and have creative discussions on many topics. There are several things a judge must remember when commenting on a topic or string of topics.
Remember, all your posts are “Public” on any social media platform and can be seen, screen shot-ed or shared by anyone using the page(s). There are many do’s and don’ts to using social media, in fact, to many to mention. I have broke them all down to just four (4) basic and simple rules when it comes to making a post.
1. Take a minute to think carefully before you post, 2. If your post is your opinion, state that it is “Only” your opinion, 3. If your post is stating a fact, make sure to
“Check” it first and state where you found it and 4. Will your post encourage or enhance healthy discussion or will it start an argument and go in a bad direction.
Always take a minute think very carefully about what you are going to post on a particular idea or discussion string. Just do not shoot from hip or react to that post inadvertently. Take a minute to step back and to think. It may be the difference between encouraging healthy conversation or possible starting an argument.
I have noticed on a fairly regular basis within these pages, most judges are fairly respectful when posting. But there a few (maybe more than a few) judges that just keep posing just for the sake of posting. They just keep trying to drive home their point or opinion no matter what the cost. There have been many arguments on these pages and for what? The sake of just arguing. Arguing proves nothing and sets a very bad precedence for those involved. It also show a lack of integrity on those who just keep arguing. Remember, if everything is "PUBLIC” on these pages, and it is, so is your integrity. Your integrity is on the line for everyone to see. The one thing you always want to protect, at all cost is your integrity as an individual, a BBQ judge and a member of KCBS!
When it comes to judges discussing the “Rules for Judging” the 4 BBQ meats, most of the discussions/posts are based on that judges opinion of the rule(s). Not the actual rule(s) outlined and created by KCBS in judging manual. The rules are not open to personal interpretation or opinion, they are the rules of judging.
If you have been reading all the articles I have been submitting to the BBQ Critic, I stated in article #4 (JCUP), it is important for “ALL” judges to get JCUP completed as soon as possible. That way when it comes to these rules discussions/posts on these Facebook pages, we will not have thousands of interpretations or opinions of those rules. There will be actual discussions of judging rules directly based on the KCBS rules themselves. There is nothing more aggravating (in “My Opinion”) than reading a thread of rules discussions posted by judges that are based solely on a personal opinion/interpretation of a rule and not based on the actual rules themselves.
While I have enjoyed participating in and reading judges posts, I tend no longer participate in posts. I am really tired and discouraged of all the posts that do nothing but create arguments for arguments sake and tend to alienate other judges. That is not what these Facebook pages were designed to do.
I get tired of being that judge who consistently quotes the rules in some discussions and then has been chastised for quoting the rules. The judging rules are very important me and my integrity as a Master Certified BBQ Judge (MCBJ) and a person is also very important. I will in no way EVER compromise my integrity just for the sake of making a post (although I have wanted to at times) but did not act. For as many posts that go off the rails in a bad direction on these pages, there are many great discussions/posts on these pages. Lots of posts that are really well thought out, well written and well discussed. I implore every judge who uses these pages of social media on Facebook to think before you act or post.
So, take time to review and think about the four (4) simple rules of social media when it comes to posting as a BBQ judge. You will be glad you did. It will keep your integrity in tact. Just make sure your discussion/post is worth your time and energy. Also make sure that your post enhances the discussion. Sometimes it is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt!
- FRANCIS
As we know there are many varieties of social media. Facebook, Instagram, Blogs, Tik-Tok and many others. I want this article to focus primarily on Facebook.
The use of “Social Media” is and can be a very slippery slope for BBQ Judges. I currently belong to two of the biggest BBQ Judge pages on Facebook.
Official KCBS Certified BBQ Judges (The header is a picture of a turn-in box of chicken) & KCBS Certified BBQ Judges (The header is picture of the American Flag with the BBQ Oath).
BBQ judges regularly use these Facebook pages to talk about a myriad of different topics, ideas, questions and state opinions on the BBQ judging process or about decisions and information set down by the Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS). When using Facebook, judges must be very mindful on how to correctly use these pages to start and have creative discussions on many topics. There are several things a judge must remember when commenting on a topic or string of topics.
Remember, all your posts are “Public” on any social media platform and can be seen, screen shot-ed or shared by anyone using the page(s). There are many do’s and don’ts to using social media, in fact, to many to mention. I have broke them all down to just four (4) basic and simple rules when it comes to making a post.
1. Take a minute to think carefully before you post, 2. If your post is your opinion, state that it is “Only” your opinion, 3. If your post is stating a fact, make sure to
“Check” it first and state where you found it and 4. Will your post encourage or enhance healthy discussion or will it start an argument and go in a bad direction.
Always take a minute think very carefully about what you are going to post on a particular idea or discussion string. Just do not shoot from hip or react to that post inadvertently. Take a minute to step back and to think. It may be the difference between encouraging healthy conversation or possible starting an argument.
I have noticed on a fairly regular basis within these pages, most judges are fairly respectful when posting. But there a few (maybe more than a few) judges that just keep posing just for the sake of posting. They just keep trying to drive home their point or opinion no matter what the cost. There have been many arguments on these pages and for what? The sake of just arguing. Arguing proves nothing and sets a very bad precedence for those involved. It also show a lack of integrity on those who just keep arguing. Remember, if everything is "PUBLIC” on these pages, and it is, so is your integrity. Your integrity is on the line for everyone to see. The one thing you always want to protect, at all cost is your integrity as an individual, a BBQ judge and a member of KCBS!
When it comes to judges discussing the “Rules for Judging” the 4 BBQ meats, most of the discussions/posts are based on that judges opinion of the rule(s). Not the actual rule(s) outlined and created by KCBS in judging manual. The rules are not open to personal interpretation or opinion, they are the rules of judging.
If you have been reading all the articles I have been submitting to the BBQ Critic, I stated in article #4 (JCUP), it is important for “ALL” judges to get JCUP completed as soon as possible. That way when it comes to these rules discussions/posts on these Facebook pages, we will not have thousands of interpretations or opinions of those rules. There will be actual discussions of judging rules directly based on the KCBS rules themselves. There is nothing more aggravating (in “My Opinion”) than reading a thread of rules discussions posted by judges that are based solely on a personal opinion/interpretation of a rule and not based on the actual rules themselves.
While I have enjoyed participating in and reading judges posts, I tend no longer participate in posts. I am really tired and discouraged of all the posts that do nothing but create arguments for arguments sake and tend to alienate other judges. That is not what these Facebook pages were designed to do.
I get tired of being that judge who consistently quotes the rules in some discussions and then has been chastised for quoting the rules. The judging rules are very important me and my integrity as a Master Certified BBQ Judge (MCBJ) and a person is also very important. I will in no way EVER compromise my integrity just for the sake of making a post (although I have wanted to at times) but did not act. For as many posts that go off the rails in a bad direction on these pages, there are many great discussions/posts on these pages. Lots of posts that are really well thought out, well written and well discussed. I implore every judge who uses these pages of social media on Facebook to think before you act or post.
So, take time to review and think about the four (4) simple rules of social media when it comes to posting as a BBQ judge. You will be glad you did. It will keep your integrity in tact. Just make sure your discussion/post is worth your time and energy. Also make sure that your post enhances the discussion. Sometimes it is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt!
- FRANCIS
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