Have you ever tried to skip a rock
on water? If you choose a small, flat stone carefully and throw it so that it
strikes the water parallel to the surface, it can skip six or seven times
before it finally loses momentum and sinks. But skipping creates many
overlapping ripples that spread out from each bounce of the rock. Soon however,
the water settles down and the ripples disappear. The things we do or say are
somewhat like this, but here the metaphor breaks down. Often what we do or say
remains in the hearts and minds of those around us for many years, even a
lifetime. It may even be passed on to future generations. Even though they are
not seen, the effect of the ripples is immeasurable, especially with social
media – consequences can cascade far beyond our ability to control or manage
them.
