On May 5, our very own Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) posted a tweet that received a large amount of backlash. In an attempt to deliver a traffic update with a touch of humor, SDOT referenced the popular meme “Scumbag Steve.”
Referring to this meme, SDOT tweeted a picture of slowed traffic near the site of an accident. The photo clearly demonstrates that people have slowed in order to view the accident, causing a long line up of vehicles. The image included “Scumbag Steve” hats imposed along the row of slow cars, while the tweet read, “You get a scumbag hat, you get a scumbag hat, everyone gets a scumbag hat! Haha I’m mean #sorry.” The tweet has since been deleted.
Given that SDOT is a state-run organization, many people took offense to the message insulting the public. An SDOT spokesperson released a statement to The Seattle Times saying, “Our traffic-management center staff typically will use a humorous meme to highlight a problematic roadway situation. Our intent is not to insult motorists, rather it’s just to call out where there’s a problem so people can make decisions about their trip.” Even the mayor weighed in on the situation. Ed Murray spoke to the Consumerist stating, “It’s never acceptable for a city employee to ridicule members of the public. I understand the Tweet in question was meant humorously, but many—myself included—took it quite differently.”
This incident raises an important question. In a world saturated with social media, where do we draw the line between being current or humorous and being offensive? Considering that traffic is typically a dry, uninteresting topic, should SDOT receive some credit for attempting to entertain its followers? Or would it be better off sticking to the facts and delivering traffic updates as simply as possible? Let us know your opinion on the controversial tweet.