Have you noticed the most popular thing being posted on Facebook these days? It generally looks something like this. "I'm done". Or maybe it's "No more". Or maybe it's "I'm tired of it." Or maybe you see it put this way: "I've had it with people posting comments about what I say about it so I am going to stop talking about it." Or sometimes you will even seen it put this way, the most drastic: "I am leaving Facebook" because of it.
"It" of course is all the harsh and mean and nasty things some people are saying from both sides against the other side if they don't agree with them. If you love Mr. T (I am not going to use his name in this commentary for fear of prompting the kind of response I am talking about) then probably you get some real negative reactions from some "friends". If you hate Mr. T you probably get some real negative reactions from some "friends." So some Facebook users have decided to either stop posting things about Mr. T, or unfriending or blocking or just leaving Facebook altogether.
I found an article that talks about the science of disagreeing that blames it on our brains and offers some advice on how not to make disagreeing so disagreeable. It's called "How to Politely Disagree, According to Science."
But is science really the answer if you want to be able to disagree without being disagreeable? I don't think so. Being able to disagree without being nasty about it takes more than what your brain can do. It's probably more about your heart than your brain. But it's not easy when it comes to Mr. T. At least for most people. Having watched Mr. T now for a long time, he has a unique ability to push something inside us that can get us worked up. If his goal as some shrinks conclude that Mr. T is driven by ego which comes from his insecurties as a child and a resulting need to get attention. He knows how to get attention. He is a master of it. That can be good and that can be not so good. But one thing is for sure it gets people worked up whether you like him or don't like him.
But if you're nearing the point of shutdown or leaving Facebook, think about it first. It is probably important that we engage with each other and debate issues and speak our minds. And listen as well. As it says in the Bible in the Book of James, "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."
Given the times, that is very wise counsel for everyone, from the White House on down. I welcome your comments.
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