Often when I read and write about social media, I think about Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel Bakan's book-turned-documentary, The Corporation and their arguments that as legal persons, corporations are sociopaths according to the DSM-IV's Personality Diagnostic Checklist.

So you know, a sociopath may display characteristics such as:

Manipulative and Conning
Grandiose Sense of Self
Pathological Lying
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
Shallow Emotions
Incapacity for Love
Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility

This is a view that many have of corporations today - legal entities that cannot be trusted. However, an authentic involvement in social media could change that perception. How is it that consumers feel so mistreated that good service is applauded because it is so hard to find? I feel that the internet has further defined our communities and made every part of the community more accountable.

Also, we now live in a postmaterialist world where it is no longer enough to concern ourselves solely with profits and losses. Our impact goes beyond monetary transactions and we must account for that. Being profitable will always be important, but it is becoming more important today to be an active contributor to a community.

After all, with corporate scandals such as Enron and the Madoff scandal, how long will sociopath tendencies be able to stay profitable? Don't be a sociopath. Use social media and the internet to take part in your community.