Let me start by saying that freedom of speech is a right that every American has and should use however he sees fit. My intention is not to try to dictate how people should or should not post, but to consider what they post before they post it.

Everyone can probably agree that this election is like watching a reality show about members of the circus on a soap opera -- aka the drama is ridiculous and absurd. Adding fuel to the fire are the non-stop social media posts from both Republican and Democrat supporters. Now, like I said, I am all for people sharing what they believe and why. What I am not a fan of are people who have different opinions acting like two kids fighting over which superhero is the coolest (it’s Batman, if you didn’t know). So here is a list of six things to not be annoying about this election.

1. Educate yourself: And no, Facebook does not ever count as an educational source. If you want to see incredibly biased, edited memes and ads, or a picture of the field where Donald Trump ‘grows his hair,’ look at Facebook. Let’s be real, using Facebook as source for your political knowledge is like using Wikipedia as a source for a research paper. In past elections, it was possible for people from different political affiliations to maturely (I repeat, maturely) discuss their beliefs. Now, both conservatives and liberals are guilty of shouting their convictions so loudly, that they become deaf to the opinions of others. For unbiased information, I recommend gathering your news from multiple sources. Fox News, CNN, and the New York Times all have apps that you can download on your phone. Each app sends notifications about the election, making it easy to stay informed.
2. Stop sharing this picture: Guys. We get it. You’re very clever thinking of yet another variation of what socialism is. But if you share this picture of a sign taped to a sign taped to another sign on top of the original sign…I will end up in a sassy, one-sided rant with your online profile.
3. Stop depending on an imperfect candidate to fix the nation single-handedly: Every candidate, regardless of who they are or what party they are affiliated with, is flawed. No candidate has the perfect plan to ‘fix’ America. Some have a better grasp on it, but no candidate is perfect. There’s an old saying “be the change you want to see in the world.” Cheesy? A little bit. But it carries a solid truth. We can effect change in our country by striving to better in our personal lives. Here’s another quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Of course, our President is held to much higher standards and should be expected to improve and protect our nation. Just make sure that you are practicing what you preach.
4. Stop bashing candidates on physical attributes: I’m not going to lie, I found this picture to be incredibly funny.
   
   But when pictures about a candidate’s hair, skin color, or general appearance are trending more than what the candidate’s economic plan is for our country, then we might have a problem.
5. Everyone read several sources about what socialism is: Or just refer to that Bernie Sander’s sign...just kidding. Don’t do that. Socialism is one of those terms that most Millenials probably vaguely remember from history class. I realize that many people are very educated on the matter and still support it. That’s their decision if they continue to support it. And keep in mind that just because it works in one nation, does not mean it will work in another. Especially one that was built on a capitalistic economic system. Again, do more reading about socialism from sources other than Facebook. You might be surprised at what you find out.
6. Be respectful: I could write a whole blog about this one. I love America. I love that we are uniquely founded on strong morals and freedom. This freedom allows us to believe whatever we want and discuss those beliefs. That freedom is a gift. And I think that maybe we squander that gift when disrespect other people’s opinions. Notice I said disrespect, not disagree. I am not going to comment on a post about Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, saying that I love them and want one of them to be President. Because,well, I really don’t. However, I will also not comment a rude, crass, immature rant about why you’re wrong and I’m right. If you have to comment on something, if you believe that you need to voice your opinion, then use your freedom of speech and go for it! But can we all just remember that we are all Americans? And, oh yeah, we’re also all adults. In life, people will disagree with you; and they might also be wrong for disagreeing with you. Having respect for people is just the right thing to do.