Feel free to check out the link, it is an active Twin Cities Metro Area About.com discussion about how much people dislike Minnesota plus some people who stumbled upon the website and defend their state.
Now it would be very easy for me to fall into the trap of picking out a particular post/posts or focus on the overall themes that these respondents have brought up and join the fight like some others have done before me, but I just don't think that is very constructive. I say that because it seems like people just searched 'I hate MN' to see what would come up found this discussion stream added their two cents and left. I doubt anyone who has posted will come back to see what other respondents have said and the whole set up is very difficult to actually have a conversation which is fine, but it is not going to fix any of the legitimate concerns people have brought up. There have been 176 respondents and it is still growing, so there is a demand.
This is where our social media training comes in. I would recommend that the Minnesota State Tourism Department would benefit from creating or facilitating the creation of a blog or blog-like space. It would be for people to be able to sound off on issues they have with the state and allow people to answer those questions, have a discussion, connect people with resources, and if it is a larger issue: potentially work with the complainer to make change if that means speaking with a neighborhood association, city council, legislator, or taking it all the way to the governor. This way it would be constructive and more closely embody the values of 'Cyberspace Innkeeping'.
Unlike a lot of defenders of our state on the About.com discussion, instead of saying "get out" at the end of their posts I would say let’s make it better, because I am pretty sure you are not the only one having the problem.
Do you think this could work? Sound off, respectfully, below.
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