My Facebook feed is currently a battleground. Instead of an outlet for a laugh at a funny video or a smile at a friend’s post, my feed is currently full of political debates.
On one hand, this is a great thing. I think it is imperative that, as United States citizens, we take time to educate ourselves on the issues at hand for our nation’s upcoming presidential election.
During this process, many people become enthusiastic about their opinions and endorsements, and they share them on Facebook or other social media. Inevitably, it seems, once you post your political opinion online, all of the people from your high school graduating class, your aunt and her entire book club, your grandmother who somehow only knows how to comment in emojis, and that one person from your chemistry class will suddenly fill your post with scathing comments and attacks against one another.
People who once were your passive “friends,” liking a picture every once in awhile, have suddenly embarked on a mission to hold a debate with a stranger on your post until your notification settings break.
While I personally haven’t posted anything political on my own feed for this very reason, I see friends’ political posts that feature a shocking and tense comment section nearly every day. I have also noticed almost every post has the same patterns.
First, a commenter who has an opposing opinion is shocked that their supposed “friend” could think these awful things. Second, there is name-calling. I see this on nearly every post, from teenager and adult alike. Interestingly enough, the pattern doesn’t seem to change depending on the specific political view.
I have a theory: No opinion is ever swayed by telling someone they are ignorant. If anything, this is going to put up a wall, and the person being insulted will refuse to listen at all. It seems that because of the tense nature of this election, everyone has forgotten how to listen to one another. But really, this is the time when we should be earnestly trying to do so the most.
I understand the shock. I understand the frustration. I understand the stakes. I will be upfront in stating that I heavily denounce Donald Trump.
Many a thing he has said has greatly offended people that I strongly care about. That is the most concise, and admittedly understated, way I can summarize my own opinion for the sake of this column. However, the only solution at hand, regardless of which opinion you have, is to push past your confusion by actively listening.
Political opinions, because of their layered nature, are immensely complex to truly decipher. You may not fully understand why someone would think the way they do, even after hours of talking. But, I can nearly assure you, you certainly have accomplished nothing productive by calling them stupid or ignorant, regardless of whether you believe them to be so.
My favorite Facebook post about the election came last week from an old acquaintance of mine, and it read: “If you support Trump, don’t un-friend me. Talk to me. Please.”
The verbal attacks have led to nothing. As this comment suggests, let’s try something different.
sdloughr@indiana.edu
