There have been scores of stories, texts and social media discord in the past 24 hours about the tweet Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey posted, and then detracted regarding his thoughts on the ongoing protests about Human Rights violations in Hong Kong. The debate over whether the NBA should have supported Morey’s stance or not, the reaction from Chinese governments and businesses as well as from American politicians going into the fray, will go on for days and probably weeks and even months as both go back and forth over what was proper, improper and how reactions have been handled as the NBA stages multiple events in Japan, China and this past week in India, while the Guangzhou Long-Lions play against the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards this week.
While the issue plays itself out, it comes at a time when last week in our Columbia class we discussed the issues of speaking and taking a stance on social issues on social media. Gina Antoniello, a Columbia grad who is now head of communications for the XFL New York Guardians after working for Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, the Long Island Nets and the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League in what has been a fast rising career, was asked about advice she has used when working with athletes or coaches or officials who are looking to have a voice in the social space.
She provided three very smart questions to ask, ones which really apply to the firestorm that was touched off by a short lived tweet a few days ago by the Rockets GM. While we have no knowledge about the thought process that went into the posting by the highly respected and very successful MIT grad, these three points ring true. 
Do I have to say it?
Does this need to be said?
Does it have to be said now?
When looking well beyond this highly volatile situation currently being played out, these three simple questions are a great litmus test for anyone engaging in an ongoing dialogue in the social space or looking for a share of voice on a topic. The answers really aren’t important as the questions themselves. The response to them is a personal choice, which everyone should have. The weighing of those answers and their consequences, large or small, are what’s worth considering.
Onward.
