How many times have we heard that to stay current, we have to engage in social media? We have read concerns about young lawyers crossing the permissible boundaries of solicitation on their Facebook pages, but we have been told that having a web site is useless unless we also use other forms of social media. Having read that 72 year old U.S. Supreme Court Justice Breyer is on “the Facebook” and on “the Twitter”, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. REBA now has a Facebook page and we are now blogging. I was asked to initiate the REBA blog conversation because it is apparent that my REBA News articles are nothing but long-winded blogs (ok, you caught me).
I also have to thank Richard Vetstein, James Sifflard and George Warshaw, who were speakers at the 13th Annual MCLE Real Estate Law Conference. They emphasized the importance of remaining current with communication technology. I told my 20 something sons that I now have a Facebook page and I will be blogging. Their responses via text message: “HA HA HA. Why is my father on Facebook?” Well, it appears that the younger generation checks their favorite blogs and websites each morning the same way that we old people read the newspaper each morning. Blogs can be useful to keep the real estate community current on changes in the law and emerging issues, but it can also be a form of therapy. The therapeutic value can come from sharing experiences that arise in our practices. I am reminded of that regularly when gentle readers connect with something I have written in REBA News. I recently wrote a rant about some of the mean spirited blogging that can crop up around applications pending before a Planning Board. I called it a form of adult bullying when anonymous malcontents spread lies about a proposed project. I heard from a town planner who said the article was being circulated among local officials who have been frustrated by the recent increase in adult bullying; but they were relieved to read that other towns were also having similar experiences.
- PAUL F. ALPHEN, Esq.
http://www.balasalphensantos.com/
http://www.balasalphensantos.com/
So, here we go. Our 150 year old institution is staying forever young.
