Letter: Stealing local news stories on Facebook bad for local business
To the Editor-
In light of the recent announcement that Frank’s Hardware is closing made me think of other effects that the mentality of going to a business that is NOT LOCAL will bring about.
The one that stands out above all others is the Facebook craze. Do any of you realize by taking part in this activity, you are providing a HUGE monetary gain for a few people at the top of Facebook? In other words, by Facebook getting so many people caught up in the money-making drama (money made specifically by selling advertising), you are helping but a few of the super-rich at the top of the Facebook food chain.
With Facebook showing that so many “customers” are buying into their drama, you are helping only the few that have no connection to Stevens Point, and care little about the effects of their presence in our world, or that local businesses can be lost.
I specifically relate the latest, most egregious of all the actions by Facebook followers. The people that steal (shoplift) information sent out by our diligent, hardworking local newspaper are being stolen by Facebook followers that don’t subscribe and act as if this isn’t wrong.
I apologize to all of you who do use Facebook for many kinds of connections. I am speaking of those who use a subscription newspaper to feed Facebook
As with Frank’s Hardware, the vultures wouldn’t honor this mainstay of our local economy, but show up at the door during the “going out of business” sale. They wouldn’t/couldn’t find it in themselves to support Frank’s on a regular basis, but it’s okay for them to get something from the business they wouldn’t support.
The same thing is exactly what Facebook individuals are doing to our local newspaper, whether it is online or in print. They use what others have worked hard to produce, and take it without a thought that they are shoplifting, basically stealing.
I rest my case.
Ruth Pfiffner
Stevens Point