It’s easy to create hype. 

A story in one newspaper does not do so. Rather, it’s when newspapers, websites, and TV and radio stations around the world repeat the story, add new angles, perhaps exaggerate a little – that’s when hype gets going.

Take the swine flu for instance. In as little as a week from the first report, people all over Canada and the world are talking about swine flu. Few likely know what it is or exactly what’s happened, but word spreads quickly and puts it on everyone’s minds.

Is this disease a serious threat? Should we all cancel pending flights to Mexico? Should we quarantine those stepping off flights from Acapulco?

No one knows, but people will panic while the reports flow in. There’s not necessarily much reasoning applied, but all the same it’s not hard to get swept up in something everyone’s talking about.

Similarly, this week, here at the Fitzhugh, we received feedback that at least one of our readers was unhappy with the fact that Amy Wilson-Chapman expressed her opinion about skiing – that after trying it, she decided it’s overrated.

Sure, people get talking, they say something like, “Someone so new to town shouldn’t criticize something so important to us locals.”

Someone else in the group agrees, word spreads, and though on a much smaller scale than news about swine flu, a little bit of hype is created. One reader went as far as to create a new email address to conceal his or her identity and send in a letter criticizing Amy’s opinion column. 

This is the utmost of cowardice – if you won’t stand up for what you have to say, we don’t have time for you. End of story. We will not allow people to tear a strip off of us without identifying themselves.

At the same time, a story was brought forward to us this week about local kids vandalizing a neighbourhood home again and again. The children of the family under attack are bullied, and their parents believe it’s racially motivated.

It’s shocking to see that in a town which bills itself as so friendly and welcoming, that there’s a man, that has lived here with his family for more than a decade, who has tears in his eyes when he talks about the struggles his children face.

He wakes up every morning wondering what kind of a mess his house will be in when he goes outside. He constantly re-thinks his decision to move to this country and raise his family here.

If only the people in this town could use hype for good. They could spread the word about vandalism, work together to keep an eye out for delinquents at night, and motivate parents and teachers to put an end to bullying.

Rather than worry about what Amy has to say about skiing, perhaps our anonymous letter-writer could scribe a note to the family, offering some assistance and support. 

It’s shocking to learn what people’s priorities are and where their focus lies – it’s no wonder our letter-writer didn’t send a name. 

Spread the hype. As you read this, think about what you’re doing today and how significant it really is. Perhaps you’ll reconsider, realign priorities, and do some good for those around you. And don’t expect us to print unattributed feedback.