(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)September 5, 2017

MAHWAH, N.J. — Welsh author and journalist Jon Ronson delivered the keynote address at the Opening Convocation on September 5. Ronson discussed his book, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, which was chosen as the summer reading selection for first-year students. The book concerns the effects of public humiliation in the Internet age, with a particular focus on Twitter.

“Social media was really created to give a voice to the voiceless, and that’s good thing,” said Ronson. “But in addition to being a positive, it’s also become a forum for negativity, like ridicule and inaccurate information which can be harmful.” He said that some of the well-known “provocateurs” that use social media – newsroom figures, celebrities, people in the public eye, for instance – can handle the negative backlash from posting their particular views about social issues.

“Those folks typically have millions of followers so they are looking for reaction. But the average person with 25 followers is often not equipped to handle the negative, and it becomes a terrible experience for them,” he said.

Ronson said response to the book since its release in March 2015 has been mostly positive. “But the first few months were difficult for me. People were really not welcoming the content or the message,” which he said is that we must remember “we are all human.”

“The sharing of information, especially when it’s so instantaneous, can be a good thing. But let’s care about others first,” he said.

Ronson offered some words of advice to students, staff and faculty. “Curiosity is good. Finding your voice is good but be thoughtful about what your words can do. And if you witness a social injustice online, don’t be afraid to speak up. That is more important that staying silent.”

Ronson’s works include the best-selling The Men Who Stare at Goats (2004) and The Psychopath Test (2011). He has published nine books and his work has appeared in British publications such as The Guardian, City Life and Time Out. He has made several BBC Television documentary films and two documentary series for British public service television.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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