Mayor Tim is well known for being reluctant to use new technology, such as Facebook and Twitter. In fact at a recent meeting of Venture Southland, he was the only one to vote against council spending $50,000 on a social media strategy and website development.
He was quoted as saying that social media, such as Facebook, might just be a fad "like the hula hoop". He said that he hated the idea of Facebook. His partner put him on Facebook "but within 24 hours of being on Facebook I had 5000 friends and I didn't know who any of them were".
When Mayor Tim was asked if he used Skype or sent text messages on his phone, his reply was classic.
"I have had my phone for years and do not know how to use it properly, and can't text because my fingers are too big."
Classic Shadbolt. We won't ask if he has an iPad or iPhone.
Tim's reluctance to use social media received quite a varied response in Southland. I thought I would share a couple of those comments with you.
Can someone tell me when the hula hoop was last a fad in the past 30 years?
Technology isn't the future, Tim Shadbolt is the future.
Tim Shadbolt is pretty cool, but I'm pretty sure people still play with the hula hoop.
What a backward man. No wonder Southland's so far behind.
Totally agree with Tim. It is a fad and over time social media will morph into a more mature sensible online collaboration space. Not focused on people wanting to boost their egos by telling the world who they are, what they had for breakfast and showing photos of their weekend BBQ.
Fortunately, Tim's voice was the lone objector and rightly the motion to invest in the future was passed.
I guess at some time in the past few years most of us have been a little reluctant to use the various forms of social media that are now available; me for one.
However, once you do take that step you never really look back.
There are times when you wonder what you would have done without it, although I do have to agree with one of those comments re the use of some media outlets to boost your ego.
Many so-called Auckland A-listers are good at that. But do we really care?
Getting back to the use of Facebook to protest over the proposed water rates rise, we should all attempt to join the Facebook revolution and tell our council how we feel.
Mr Guy says social media has become more involved in community and council issues.
"It's a sign of a changing medium for voicing protest."
Facebook is, in a way, the written version of talk radio.
People can speak their mind and say how they feel about issues. Facebook is a follow-up of that.
The comments that have been posted on Facebook have been interesting. Let's hope our council listens to the people.
Maybe we should send Cr Guy to Invercargill to give Mayor Tim a few lessons in the use of social media.
Brian Kelly is the Coast 97.4FM breakfast announcer
