Are We Becoming Emotional Terrorists?
Americans are becoming emotional terrorists. We publish totally false information on social media without checking on it’s validity. That is slander. It’s immoral. We have degenerated from arguing logically on issues to name calling and ridiculous irrelevant criticism of any one remotely related to people we disagree with. We are shrinking to the level of moral gnats. And it not only accomplishes nothing positive, it alienates us from one another more deeply than ever before, since the civil war. We aren’t just targeting the politicians we disagree with, but one another. For me face book has been a wonderful source of information about friends and family, photos of grandchildren, connection to family living in other countries, and virtual travel to places I’ve never been. In the last two years I have been more home bound by both my own health issues and my husband’s than I have ever been in my life. The internet and face book have been a great blessing. But now, trying to wade through all the political posts, advertisements, and memes someone else chooses for me takes more time than I have to spend for finding the things I want to see or read. Perhaps we should set up our own face book pages as ones limited to one or more of the following: politics, or spirituality, or jokes, or cute animals or travel experiences, or mental health, or venting, or personal ones just relevant for family and friends. I really need to cut down on the vitriol I have to wade through on my face book page. At my stage of life, there are many serious personal challenges that I have to face each day. Some people may find an escape from personal struggles and our sense of the helplessness of individuals in our modern world through a vicious verbal war on politicians and the people who support them. I don’t. It just adds to my sense of helplessness and vulnerability. Discussions with accurate and comprehensive information are helpful. Writing our representatives to express and give logical support for our opinions on policy is a vital part of a democracy. Peaceful protests like those of Martin Luther King Jr. have been an effective part of the democratic process. But it’s beginning to look like we lost the patience, self control, and commitment needed for those some time ago.
Posted on August 31, 2017, in conflict resolution differences, disillusionment, fear, historical perspective, Mental Health, Nobody wins with any Political Solution to Healthcare, Political, prejudices, Uncategorized, violence and tagged emotional warfare, face book as a connection with family and friends, face book as a weapon, half truths that distort, logic vs hubris, mental health, moral midgets, name calling, slander, viciousness in politics, vitriol from helplessness and vulnerability. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
I have to avoid Facebook as much as possible — in the last couple of years it has turned into such a toxic waste dump, and if I spend much time there I get really depressed. It’s too bad, because it used to be a lot of fun.
I’m trying to figure out if I can have a couple of different face book pages and control the topics. Don’t know if people would cooperate.
The vitriol is appalling. But I am managing to avoid most of it now. Not sure how except I have clicked on buttons saying I don’t want to see anymore of certain posts.
Yes, where I can do that without unfriending a relative, I am doing that also, even though a lot of them are posts from by my political party!
Vitriol is an equal opportunity offense.
Yes, definitely an equal opportunity offence.
Thanks for your wise assessment of the current state of things.