Tips for using Social Media
There’s a lot of research that says you won’t change anyone’s long held belief on Facebook, BUT you can challenge their belief that we are all the stereotypical violent criminals they presume we are.
Never threaten, name call, or abuse an opponent on social media when speaking about our sport, it makes you look like an idiot and confirms their already low opinion of us. State a few facts, keep it short, and then elect to stop notifications.
Activist groups are using Facebook and Twitter as a call to action for their supporters and to spread their negative messages. As responsible shooters, we can use these very same mediums to combat negative stereotypes or perceptions by presenting a positive picture of shooting and hunting.
It’s great to be passionate about shooting and hunting and to share this with friends and followers, but commonsense and careful consideration of what we post should prevail when sharing a photo or information about our sport and chosen pastime
Although words can send powerful statements, photographs can also convey the right or wrong message and are much more likely to be seen.
Simple guidelines when posting photos are:
being mindful of the position of the animal and how much blood is visible, even moving the animal away from the blood trail or photographing it from a respectable distance to avoid focusing on blood.
Make sure the firearm is always pointed away from the camera and in a safe direction from the photographer and others present.
We strongly advise against pointing the barrel at the camera as it’s unsafe to do so.
Shooter’s posting checklist
Does my photo contain unnecessary graphic detail; eg, excessive blood?
Is the firearm pointed away from the camera and towards a safe location?
Should individuals in the photo be wearing protective clothing?
Should I conduct a personal heated conversation about my chosen pastime with an activist online, or should I take it offline?
Is my comment offensive or a personal attack, or is it a fair and balanced response to criticism?
Am I presenting the shooting sports or recreational hunting in the best possible light?
Are my privacy settings correct so no unwanted eyes can view my personal information or photos?
