How many times have you had Facebook or Twitter fights in the last year or so? How many of those arguments have been about politics? I try my best to avoid political issues online because they often blow up in my face. But I don't think we should feel scared to voice our opinions online. They're what we believe. We all have biases. We all have political affiliations. We all have baggage. These are things we should keep in mind as we have online disputes.
Often these fights become about more than just what we believe. They become about the people themselves. How did we come to be so hateful to one another? As a follower of Christ and empathetic human being, I am dedicated to making sure everyone I interact with feels comfortable and heard when I listen, even in an Internet setting. It's definitely harder to get that across online, but we can still show our empathy and care for others in different ways. Instead of practicing care, many times we type out our responses without thinking of how the other person may feel or how they may react to our words. It's especially difficult when we don't have body language or tone to put the words into context - we have to simply rely on the words we post, which can be tricky.
I find that rereading what I wrote before I post can be helpful in interpreting what's really behind my words. There's just something about reading words out loud that turns on a lightbulb in our brains signaling whether the words are spoken (or written, I guess, since they're typed out) from a place of hatred and defensiveness or if they are spoken in love and compassion. Taking the time to really read between the lines of our posts can cease disputes and ensure that we are not saying anything with the intention to hurt others.
When it comes down to it, we are all human beings who are meant to live on this Earth for different purposes, ideas, and opinions. If we all believed the same thing, the world would be such a monotonous and boring place to live! There's nothing wrong with a friendly discussion about politics or tough issues - it's when these discussions are taken to the next level and turned into arguments. Putting ourselves in the readers' shoes can help us understand how other people may receive our words. Even if they are "just facts," there is bias and a certain tone beneath every post whether intentional or unintentional. The best thing to do is to be aware of what you are saying and how what you're saying can be perceived or taken in a way in which you didn't intend.
I know that I have to check myself and reread my words before I hit "send" to make sure I don't post out of anger or hatred.
If I'm not in the right mindset to reply in a kind and caring way, I either wait to post or don't post at all. I always remember the phrase, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." We seem to have forgotten that age-old saying in this age of social media. Words matter, whether they are spoken, written, or typed. Let me say it again - words matter. I strongly encourage each and every one of you to remember the power of words the next time you're thinking of posting something potentially offensive or harmful. Instead of the hatred often seen in our news feeds, let's fill social media with love and care. Taking the time to consider your words and the meaning behind them is a step in the right direction.
