The political climate of the moment is... tense. If I had to compare it to something, it would be that video of those guys putting rubber bands on a watermelon until it explodes. We're on the last rubber band before... KABOOM!
If your social media is anything like mine, I'm sure there are many, many people sharing their opinions on virtually every political thing that happens. I'm guilty of this. And, if you're anything like me, it can be super easy feel the need to comment on these posts. Commenting is fine. Conversation is one of the things that makes social media so valuable.
I would just suggest asking yourself these four questions to see it's all really worth it.
Do I have all the facts straight?
This should seem like a given, but you'd be surprised. If you've only found one article to support what you're saying and you can't cross check it with any other news site, chances are it isn't true. Also, if you're getting your talking points from Breitbart.com (not putting a link because you shouldn't waste your time) or some deep, dark crevice of Reddit, it's probably paranoid conspiracy theory. If the thing you're going to comment is not based in fact, save yourself some time and keep scrolling.
Is this respectful?
The deep divide between ideologies has gotten wider this election cycle. It can be easy to ignore the actual person sharing their views, and just focus on the difference in opinion that you have. Keep the comments above the personal, and you NEVER slam anybody. Politics can be fun to talk about, but making things personal and taking things personally can suck all the fun out of it.
Is this going to hurt my relationship with this person?
This goes hand-in-hand with the last point, but it's so important that we not forget our humanity during these trying times. You're friends on social media with this person for a reason. At some point in your lives, you decided you liked each other enough to make it online official. Don't ruin that because you guys disagree about ObamaCare, for crying out loud. Just remember that, while we may have differences, we're all humans, and that has to come first.
Is it even necessary?
This one's a bit more open-ended, but it's significant. Is it absolutely necessary for you to comment on that post? Does it positively add to the conversation? Will the world keep spinning if you don't say something? If the comment is controversial, are you willing to experience backlash for the next day or so? There are so many nonsensical and unneeded comments out there, just make sure yours NEEDS to be said.
Like I said above, comments on social media can be great and add to the whole experience if used correctly. However, too often they can be hateful and useless. Just make sure you think before you type.
