With it being summer and all, I often find myself bored, on social media endlessly scrolling through posts of check-ins, shared videos and articles, bashing of political candidates amongst other things. I came across a post where someone shared an Odyssey article, much like the ones I and many others write, and wrote how she hated the type of people the article was about. I sat there staring at my phone screen both confused and angry.
We live in a world where everyone is entitled to their own opinion, yes. We live in a society where everyone can post and share their opinion on social media, yes. So you're probably wondering, "Why were you angry and confused if you understand both those things?"
First off, I don't understand why you are sharing an article you don't agree with. I read articles and posts daily, if not hourly, that I don't agree with and that don't share my opinion. But I do not share those articles and posts and share my disagreeing and dislike of the opinion or topic of those things. Second, I'm angry because that person is directing a negative attitude to an article that took a lot of time and effort. That took thought, planning and commitment. That occupied the times of editors and writers alike.
I think one of the things that people can't just contain within themselves, their significant other and their family is the way they want to negatively react to the actions and beliefs of others. Recently I wrote an article, "Why Election Season is Ruining Facebook For Most Of Us," and I honestly believe that along with that, the way we react to each other is ruining Facebook for people like me and many of my friends who don't bash people for their opinions or beliefs.
My sister posted a Facebook status the other day on the primary election that, to me at least, says what the people who go on Facebook for Tasty videos, memes, to interact with friends and everything else Facebook is used for are thinking. And the status read: "All these presidential statuses of people bashing one another are getting in the way of me looking at memes. However, I am enjoying my friends list getting smaller since every time I see someone post an uneducated status, I unfriend them. Instead of complaining about the presidential race on social media, go out and vote!"
So let me end this with a call to action for all of you reading this. Next time you see an opinion you don't like, a belief you don't share and a post about the presidential candidate you don't support, rather than making a comment or sharing it stating how much you dislike and disagree with it, find an article you love, find a video of an awesome food, or find a meme you can't stop laughing at, and share that. Share what you love just like everyone else shares what they do. Oh, and share this too while you're at it ;)
