We've all been there. Joe Schmo insulted Dan DaMan's mother over social media and he simply cannot let that slide. Dan responds to Joe's post, and Joe leaves a response to that. Soon enough, more and more people are drawn into the debacle; they follow the post to keep up with the drama and begin to take sides. Not before long, Joe and Dan have both built up considerable armies that are more than willing to go to battle for them. However, after a while the fighting gets old, and all anyone wants to do is diffuse it, but they are unsure how. But fear not, fellow social media aficionados! Here are 5 simple ways that are sure to diffuse a fight over social media. Just use one or more of these methods, and Joe Schmo and Dan DaMan are friends once again!
1. Insert a GIF into the conversation that has nothing to do with anything that was mentioned or will potentially be mentioned.
Personally, I like to use a classic GIF from The Office, because what better way to end a social media fight than Kevin, Michael, and/or Dwight? However, if The Office isn't your niche, that substitute The Office for Parks and Recreation, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, etc.
2. If you feel you aren't bold enough to use GIFs just yet, memes will also do the trick.
My personal preference is to use Joe Biden memes, just because, no matter your political affiliation, everyone can enjoy a good Biden meme, but feel free to use whatever memes you feel necessary.
3. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but you know what else is worth a thousand words? A thousand words.
By 'they' I do not know who I am referring to, that is just an expression that I believe my grandmother started because she is full of phrases like that. To use this method, use your favorite search engine to search for articles, poems, short stories, take your pick. When you find one that you like that is a thousand words long, copy and paste it (make sure you save the URL so you can give credit to the author, otherwise you are stealing and that's bad). I also suggest using a rather humorous or random excerpt (find a brief history on maple leaves, for example) the people in the fight will be so captivated by the information that you are bestowing upon them that they will forget whatever it was that they were fighting about, and you will have successfully diffused said debacle.
4. I find it interesting that, in order to get into a college in the colonies, Alexander Hamilton may have actually lied about his age to appear two years younger, so the actual date of his birth is debated among historians. Which brings me to the question- why do some people find it acceptable to put pineapple on pizza?
The art of confusion. Another favorite of mine. Simply insert a lengthy fact about essentially anything (I enjoy using history facts) and followup said statement with a question that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact. The people fighting will be so focused on the question that you asked, that they will focus on that more than the previous issue. (Please do not use such controversial topics such as pineapple on pizza as a distraction, as that question may in fact lead to another fight).
5. Sometimes all you can do to end a fight is to eat a bag of potato chips.
Any snack food will do, really. But don't stop at just eating your snack, because that wouldn't effect the argument in any way. Unless you were the main person arguing and got hungry, than eat your chips and don't comment while eating. Maybe the fight will end as you are eating your delicious treat, so it's really a win-win. ANYWHO, don't stop there, film a lengthy video of yourself eating the snack and post it in the comments. By doing so, everyone will watch the video and be so busy trying to find you the professional help that you need (judging by the fact that you just filmed yourself eating a snack food and posted it for no reason whatsoever) that they will forget the fight and join together for a good cause. For an example, refer to the video in the link below of "Snack-Man".
And that's it! That's how you diffuse a social media fight. If one of the methods do not work, be sure to review this article to make sure that you are using said method correctly, if you are, try a new method, as every debacle is unique and requires a different level of madness.
