Facebook and Me

I’m firmly convinced that one of the biggest reasons that we are a “divided nation” is because of Facebook. Pure and simple. But it’s here, and it’s a fact of life.

There’s a million flaws with what happens on Facebook, but there’s one I want to address right now.

If you post something, expect responses.

Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Yet, it doesn’t work that way many times.

I don’t post that much here, but when I do, it is normally original posts. I do some shares, but not too many. Some are just fun posts (which is what I wish Facebook mostly was) but some are political. Either way, when I post something, I anticipate comments. It’s great when they agree with me, but I know many of them won’t. So when I get comments contrary to my post, I have a number of options.

I can ignore them and just let the poster speak his piece. Or I can respond. However, what I can’t do is come back at the person and tell them to stop commenting. Or to get off my page. Or try to humiliate them. Or try to get a "zinger" in. Or call them names.... You get the idea.

Yet, that’s what I see happen.

Here’s the trouble. Facebook is filled with political groups. They often post incendiary items. And a lot of those posts are slanted, or just plain lies. But people read them, and share them. If I see something which appears to me to be slanted or false, many times I comment on it. I try to point out what I perceive as falsehoods. I know this infuriates people, because we just want to believe what we already believe. When I become contrary, they don’t like it.

And I understand that. And I’m sorry. I know I can be annoying. Yet, I find it difficult to let lies or even unintentional falsehoods just go unchallenged. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. And many times I wish I wasn’t like this. It would make my life much easier and more peaceful. And I'd get out more! Yet, this is what I am.

So if you put a political post up, expect challenges. From me, or from others.

If you don’t want challenges, then just don’t post. Seems pretty simple to me.