Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, joining local local female politicians who have been complaining for months about online abuse, says he’s tired of critics who post “hurtful and harmful” comments on social media.

Diodati posted a two-minute video to his Facebook page Wednesday about social media etiquette.

“Unfortunately, social media is still ground for some hurtful and harmful behaviour,” Diodati said from his city hall office. “At the end of the day, we’re all human beings — and it is OK to disagree, but it is not OK to disrespect.”

He said over recent months, it has been “tense” trying to navigate the pandemic.

“During that time, I’ve been called everything from … disgraceful, asshat, f—ing liar, misogynist, this guy is nuts, full of s–t, idiot, douchebag, reckless and corrupt, not a leader, a ducking donkey, a mini Trump, laughing stock and a complete joke,” said Diodati reading from a list. “We’re better than that, and words have meaning.”

He said he realizes he was elected to be a leader and is “passionate” about being “out front” and “taking it on the chin.”

“But hate on my pages has to stop, and it will stop.”

Recently, St. Catharines city Coun. Karrie Porter outlined harassment she had been facing by an online troll.

When Porter shared her concerns in a Facebook post, St. Catharines regional Coun. Laura Ip and St. Catharines city Coun. Lori Littleton were quick to show their support and share some of their own experiences, whether it be harassment on social media, email or phone calls.

Diodati said while politicians recognize they’re open to criticism, they should not have to accept “disrespect” and “hate.”

He said that goes for everyone — not just politicians — adding there’s a segment of the population that suffers from mental-health issues and that “words matter.”

“This is absolutely not limited to political people but I figured I’m going to use my platform to take a stand.”

Ip, who has been a target of misogynistic online attacks on several occasions during this term of council, said she doesn’t believe most elected officials are looking for “special treatment” or for constituents to be “extra nice” to them, but rather ask for civility.

She said while men in politics do have to deal with social media abuse, there’s a “very significant” difference between the comments directed towards her, Porter, Littleton and other women in politics and what is directed at men.

“The comments that come my way are maybe even that much more extreme because my children are people of colour, I’m a single woman — there’s a number of other factors that play into that,” said Ip.

“But all of the comments that we get are always very personal in nature, and they stop just short of threats, they stop just short of something that we could involve the police in. What I have been experiencing has been near daily since getting elected.”

Porter said incivility seems to have become “progressively worse” during the pandemic.

“Some people have become more kind and more neighbourly and then other people are quick to anger, and there’s a lot of frustration,” she said.

Porter said politicians don’t want to ban people or delete comments from their social media accounts, but “you have to draw the line somewhere and I think there needs to be a push back and people need to be accountable for the comments they make.”

“The criticism is always welcome and encouraged and it should be in a democracy. But we have to draw a line somewhere and we have to keep talking about what that line is.”

Diodati said he’s creating a social media neutral zone.

“This will be a safe space for those around us. And, no, I’m not trying to be a suck, or avoiding criticism. In fact, I encourage constructive criticism. But enough is enough.”

In an interview, Diodati said he will no longer allow people to post “hurtful, hateful, vengeful and venomous” comments on his social media pages.

“If other people want to allow it on theirs, that’s their business. But I’m saying publicly, upfront, think before you hit the send button because I will delete your comments and I will block you.”

Diodati said that doesn’t mean he will delete comments that voice opposition to him, as long as the criticism is constructive.

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