I love Facebook. Yes, it can be a time suck and sometimes I cringe at oversharers. But I love the way it has kept me connected to friends and family all over the world.
I got to see a beautiful toothless grin when a friend in another state’s daughter lost her first tooth, I was able to see a visual of the scene when my sick grandma got to have lunch with the high school football team, and I got to see the smile on my cousin’s face when he got accepted to the University of Michigan. All day-to-day things that I get to be a part of, even though I live far away from these people I love, because of Facebook.
Lately, though, Facebook is sucking all of the life from me. I open my feed and feel suffocated rather than refreshed. It’s your fault. Your political rants are killing me.
Ever since this presidential campaign and election, I can’t browse Facebook, hoping for a momentary escape (read: procrastination) from my laundry or cleaning or long grocery store line, without seeing someone use Facebook at a platform to expose their political viewpoint.
I get it. You’re passionate about the rights of women, the rights of the unborn, the rights of homosexuals, the rights of transgender people, the rights of your blessed second amendment. I hear you loud and clear.
The thing is, every time I read these posts, I feel like I’m being yelled at. It doesn’t matter what side you’re on. Both sides are being batshit crazy on Facebook right now. Nobody gets an exemption here. And I don’t want to be yelled at on Facebook.
I’m here to tell you: You’re ruining Facebook. Before too long, you’re only going to be yelling at yourself and those people who believe exactly the way you do because everyone else is either going to unfollow you or leave Facebook all together.
I don’t want to unfollow you (I love you even if I don’t agree with you) and I don’t want to leave Facebook. I just want to see that my high school friend’s kid won their hockey tournament this weekend, that my friend’s dog ate her new shoes, and that my cousin tried a new recipe her whole family loved. That’s what I care about on Facebook. I read my news and opinion pieces elsewhere, so can you help me out here and keep your passionate political views off of my book of faces?
What to do with all your pent up passion and/or rage? I have some ideas for you!
5 Things You Can Do Instead of Using Facebook for your Political Rants
-
Volunteer to help the cause you’re passionate about.
Whether it’s the rights of women, the rights of the unborn, or global warming, put your words into action and actually do something to help the cause about which you are ranting.
-
Donate money to the cause you’re passionate about.
Writing about it on Facebook isn’t changing anyone’s mind; I can promise you that. All you’re doing is eliciting cheers from those who agree with you and anger from those who do not. Put your money where your mouth is–that’ll make a bigger difference than your rants.
-
Write a letter to your congressman.
Don’t love a choice being made in Washington? Write your congressman and tell them all about it! Make your voice mean something. Want to encourage your friends to do the same? Shoot the ones you know would be interested an email.
-
Have a dinner party!
Do you just love to talk politics? Great! There are lots of people who do. Have a dinner party and engage in some meaningful conversations with the friends who are interested in having those conversations, instead of all 500 of your Facebook friends.
-
Find another platform.
There’s a reason why I don’t use my personal Facebook page to write five paragraph essays about happy and healthy living. Yes, I’m passionate about it. That’s why I have this blog. It’s dedicated to my passion. I can keep it right here, and then occasionally share a simple link for those interested to click over and read more. Guess what?! The Internet is awesome and you can do the same thing! Start a blog and blog your heart out.
Keep your puppy photos, adorable videos of dads and daughters singing, kid brags, and recipe videos, but leave your political rants out of my feed. If you agree, will you do me a solid and share this on your timeline? Let’s save Facebook!
My house is nice, but it’s not a magazine spread, you know? So I try to read blogs like yours and others that enrich my life and make me happy!! But it’s difficult…we’re continuously inundated. That’s my two cents, but I wanted you to know that many of us share your sentiments.
Exactly why I’m not, and never will be, on FB despite living in Germany for 4 years! I’m so sensitive to what I watch and read that sometimes even Fixer Upper ( love Chip and Jo, great show, all the best things about tv! Nothing against them) makes me not love my house. Not good. My house is fine but it’s not a page from a magazine, you know? So I try to stick to blogs like YOURS and some others that enrich my life and bring positivity!! But it’s hard…we are bombarded constantly. That’s my two cents, but wanted you to know, many of us feel the same as you.
PS…. I started to read this post and scrolled back to the top to see if it was from a guest contributor?. It shows that your feathers were ruffled in a way I’ve never heard from you before. And I do mean that kindly, hope it doesn’t come across as critical. I love every word and the message!
You hit the nail on the end..thank you!!
You’re welcome. 🙂
Perfectly said. I love Facebook but I am starting to avoid it for exactly this, unfortunately! Love this post!
Thanks Heather!