Election time is coming and if you
are on FaceBook that probably means you are about to change your buddy list;
you’ll drop some people and others will drop you often without warning. Indeed
here are those who post pleas not to discuss anything political and others who
constantly post the latest email rumor that makes “the other guy” look bad.
I admit to enjoying political
discussions and even engaging in some debating, I like to hear other viewpoints
and I like doing the research to back up many of the issues I feel are
important. While I don’t expect to change anyone’s mind ultimately I would like
to hope that I encourage more discussion and thought.
While I enjoy a good
thought-provoking debate, I don’t appreciate it when it becomes personal, I don’t
like name calling and foul language, or having my intelligence questioned. And
I do get offended when ethnic slurs and outright bigotry works its way into the
post.
If you are going to be open to
debating the political situation, here are a few tips: by all means THINK or as
my dad always said “put brain in gear before engaging mouth”; read what the
other person has to say and not just the highlights like they are planning to
vote for your favorite candidate’s opponent; especially if they aren’t
responding to something you’ve posted there is no way that anything they are
saying is personal.
If you are scrolling through your
newsfeed and see that oh so perfect post that totally casts the opposing
candidate in a terrible and embarrassing light, don’t just repost without
checking the veracity (I use Snopes.com a lot) even though it might be
tempting. Be sure that you can back up whatever assertions you are making with
verifiable sources. And refrain from generalizations about the “people who
would vote for [the other guy]. Finally NEVER tell someone to shut up, give it
up, or (my “favorite) go back to where you came from — everyone is entitled to
an opinion whether you like it or not and they should be allowed to voice it
politely.
If you want people to listen to you
and think about the arguments you make, try to put it into their perspective.
What is important to you may actually be in direct opposition to someone else’s
political views. If you can point out the benefits that they would like such as
increasing the school budget and adding after school programs (usually a
liberal concern) would help lower crime rates (often a conservative concern) as
the youngsters and teens would be kept too busy to hang out on the streets.
If the other person insists on
nastiness, just back away even if your inclination is to swipe back. And yes
there may even come a point where you don’t want or need someone’s malicious
and thoughtless words on your page at any time, so unfriend that individual. On
word of caution though, don’t unfriend just because you share different views
and expect them to want to welcome you back after the election, they might not.
No matter what, if you have made one
person really THINK, even if you haven’t swayed them, then you have
accomplished something very important.
I’ll leave you with this thought,
please VOTE. Yes I have a favorite candidate but I will respect the office and
whoever winds up sitting in it — so long as I can believe that true majority
rule made that final decision.
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