Some are teachers, construction workers, firefighters, poker players, and so on. It's pretty neato to read up on their lives...even kind of weird b/c I know more about them in this virtual world than I knew about them in the real world. What I find intriguing, especially during election years, is the way in which their political convictions come out...whether they simply state their political party in the profile page - or "like" a particular candidate - or share a particular political link - or [squinting my eyes] spout out vitriol against a candidate or party.
How many times have you opened your News Feed to find posts like:
"F*ck the Republican Party!" or "Sarah Palin is an idiot" or "OBAMA - One big a$$ mistake America" or "The last time Republicans supported a man this stupid (Romney), he actually won (Bush)" or "... is rather disgusted..woohoo let’s socialize medicine and tax the rich more and just give even more welfare to the lazy Americans!" and so on and so on.
What makes me either silence, block, or unfriend someone faster than Usain Bolt running 100 meters is when these FB friends start ranting about their party, candidate, or whatever as if they were trying to change my 42 year old mind (2o of which have been convicted in political beliefs) by showing me data tables, video links to hate mongerers like Rachel Maddow, Sean Hannity, Bill Maher, Glenn Beck, Jon Stewart, and those other comedian/pundit/anchors knuckleheads. (Wow, I didn't realize how many people treat some of these people like the end-all be-all of news reporting).
I recently unfriended a HS acquaintance for posting the most vitriolic, racist, angry rant basically saying that if you didn't support Obama, he (former FB friend) does not want to associate with you and does not care one way or the other if you unfriend him. Wow! So in a room full of 100 of your friends, you will essentially alienate yourself and de-friend from 50 of them because they don't align themselves with your left-wing liberal viewpoint? Dang, I thought I knew you better than that. I guess I was wrong.
If you fall into the category I just described, I simply look at you as a demagogue - one who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument. I don't think you're an idiot. I don't: I just think you're starting to come off like one.
I truly believe that your opinions are well-reasoned and I respect your passion and convictions...But your FB statuses are like your personal slogans, and every time you post one, you add to your public schema and run the risk of causing every statement you make to seem trivial, childish, and naive. Rather than coming across as knowledgeable and well-educated, you come across as simply a demagogue.
Here's my take: (and listen (or read) to me carefully)...'cause I care about you all. The author of this blog is a registered Independent. I choose to be a free-thinker regarding any/all political issues whether fiscal, foreign affairs, social, or any other important issue in our society. I do not need a political party's talking points to sway my vote. I do not need YOU to sway my vote nor do I need to read your biased, mean-spirited takes on Mr. Obama, Mr. Romney, the Congress, Mr. Ryan, or Mr. Biden. I will vote based on my personal beliefs and convictions (from 20+ years of quantitative/qualitative data collection) whether it comes from aligning with a talking point from the Left or a talking point from the Right. I will vote what I think is best for my family, city, county, state, and Nation.
If I have not "liked" or commented on one of your FB posts recently, I either didn't read it {as I try not to peruse FB on a regular basis}, or don't deem your post worthy of "like" or comment, or I silenced you! Whichever one it is, please respect my perspective, as I have respected your rants by not contributing to it.
This message is approved by Jay Caballero, Ed.D.
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