FaceBook Politics

Apparently, the old adage, "Don't discuss politics or religion," doesn't seem to apply to FaceBook.  The political rantings on the social networking site have gotten out of control. And I have a feeling it's only going to get worse throughout November.

Essentially, posting your religious or political beliefs on FaceBook is like standing on top of a chair with a bullhorn in hand in the middle of a Christmas party filled with all 150 of your friends. You interrupt their good cheer and sampling of fruitcake by announcing that abortion is wrong or that Chick-Fil-A should be boycotted.

A few of your friends give you the thumbs up sign but nobody pays attention to them except you (and you are feeling quite proud at the moment).

A couple of your friends give you a pat on the back and start telling you why they agree, which makes you feel even better about yourself. Then your other "friend" (who asked to be invited into your circle of friends a while back and you didn't really want to invite him to your Christmas party but you didn't want to ignore him either, which would be awkward for both of you) starts arguing with everyone while stating point after point for why he is right and you are wrong.  And then a scuffle breaks out, someone gets punched in the face, and you ask yourself, "Why is everyone so sensitive?"

Although it seems like it in the privacy of your own home behind a computer screen, or more likely, on your smart phone, that you are just talking privately to a couple of your like-minded friends, you most certainly are not.  No.  You are stating your beliefs to everyone who made it onto your friends list (your like-minded friends, your right-wing or left-wing extremist friends, your long-lost elementary friends, your coworkers, your family members, your acquaintances, your ex-girlfriends or -boyfriends... ).  And now FaceBook has made it so that when you like or comment on a post, it shows up on everyone else's newsfeed (and, usually, you don't even know it).  So what feels private, is really and truly, VERY PUBLIC.

You wouldn't say these things to their face, so why would you say it on FaceBook?