Let me repeat: THE INTERNET IS INSANE.
Yes, I know this. Everybody knows this. It’s the reason for those obnoxious CAPTCHA words that look like letters melted together by aliens. Some people are bigger crazy magnets than others, usually because they say crazy things themselves or maybe by definition you get crazier comments when CAPTCHA is on (a bizarre self-fulfilling prophecy, perhaps).
At any rate, the Internet is even more insane when it comes to politics and religion.
There is a reason I grew up to respect the saying: “Never discuss religion or politics in mixed company.” It is not because it’s impossible to have a civil conversation about these things. It’s that it is impossible for most people.
Back when people used to spend time together and talk about these things (remember, before social media?), it was easier to get into a passionate debate, drink a few beers, laugh it off and say, “Agree to disagree, friend.” It’s a controlled chaos; full hazmat gear is on and everyone follows safety protocol.
The Internet does this, but there are no beers. And there are no polite hugs at the end of the evening, either. The Internet takes off the gloves, fondles the contagions with wild abandon and spreads the virus like a zombified wildebeest.
I can’t count the number of debates I’ve seen today on Facebook and Twitter and, for crying out loud, in the comments sections of legitimate news articles, most of which are down-and-out fights, name-calling and other nonsense. The number of people “praying” and flailing in desperation. I mean, really. The world did not end. Life goes on.
Are you going to look back at your heat-of-the-moment Facebook comment later and regret how reactionary and ignorant you come across? DO NOT POST IT, THEN. Some thoughts are meant to stay internal. Are you arguing things based on pure emotion, with no fact or reason to back it up? Common sense says maybe you should just vent to your significant other about these things, not the entire world wide web.
I’ve read the argument that we should go wild with our thoughts, speak openly about our feelings on those who oppose our particular religion or politics. After all it is our right as Americans to say whatever we want, no matter how incendiary! (Because historically this has worked out so well!)
But here’s the thing: No minds will be changed. Do people really think that yelling until their faces are blue (or until their all-caps key is broken) will make any difference? The reason religion and politics are taboo is because they are personal. They are beliefs that are not easily compromised by just any asshole on the Internet.
It can be entertaining to watch, I’ll give it that. But even if you try to argue respectfully online, you will walk away from your keyboard frustrated, irritated and wanting to enact some kind of intelligence test in order to comment online. It is a guarantee.
So that is why you’ll find me quietly biting my tongue and simultaneously popping popcorn as the Internet cannibalizes itself with crazy. I will not join in on the crazy, no matter how much I want to defend my views, because I do not need to.
My views are my own. I respect your right to your own views, so I will not try to convince you that mine are right. Besides, if my candidate couldn’t convince you, I sure as hell won’t be able to.
If you have a beef with the U.S. government, please go through the proper channels to complain. Contact your congressperson or write a letter to the White House. Please resist the urge to fight in the New York Times comments sections or on Facebook. No change is happening there, only headaches.
