Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
Until the recent mandate from HHS came down against religious liberty, I steadfastly avoided posting about politics on Facebook.
Sounds like I was wise. Andrew Malcolm at Investors Business Daily writes:
In a new study, the Pew Center for the Internet and American Life Project confirmed what most intelligent Americans had long sensed. That is, whenever they are challenged or confronted on the hollow falsity of their orthodoxy -- such as, say, uniting diverse Americans -- liberals tend to respond defensively with anger, even trying to shut off or silence critics.
The new research found that instead of engaging in civil discourse or debate, fully 16% of liberals admitted to blocking, unfriending or overtly hiding someone on a social networking site because that person expressed views they disagreed with. That's double the percentage of conservatives and more than twice the percentage of political moderates who behaved like that.
He has more data on the blocking habits of liberals before concluding his story:
Bottomline, this study is obviously racist.
God bless you, Andrew Malcolm.
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Mar '11
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
Since Breitbart died, I've been posting a couple of news articles per day that, while not political in and of themselves, do support a conservative worldview. I've only lost one "friend," and he and I had mistaken each other. I hadn't unfriended him before, because I didn't want him to get mad at the other guy with my name. I'm actually surprised at the friends who've liked my new posts, and we've had some great discussions on Facebook.
Now, on the other hand, a friend of mine who has strong ties to the local music scene gets called names and hollered at for writing posts based on his strongly-held Catholic faith. However, he's been getting a lot of private messages from other musicians thanking him for taking a stand. Apparently, there are even a lot of folks on the Left who are afraid of the direction of the country, but are also afraid to speak their mind for fear of losing work, friends, clients, etc.
Feb '11
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
I think the question for me has been - why did I become involved with FB in the first place, and so, what is the point of FB?
I joined to reconnect with family and friends who lived great distances apart or with whom I/we were just not regular in keeping up meaningful contact.
I never wanted it to be a forum for debate, but I have felt increasingly pushed by my leftist friends and family to rebut what they say. There are one or two intemperate right-wing people, as well, but almost daily five or six posts from the left.
So I tried a season of reasoned discussion (Obamacare time). It didn't go so well, as others have noted, hate mail, outbursts, curses, etc.; so I swore off of politics in the hope of maintaining relationships, but this idea that Everything is Political is driving me to either start arguing with them - but really, my goodness, who has time - I waste enough of it reading Ricochet - to respond to everything they put up; or letting them get away with it. It is a horrid dilemma, and I see it everywhere in our culture right now.
Mar '11
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
Oh, and I've blocked a few friends, but mainly because they fill up my feed with incessant posts about the mundane and trivial. Only one block is politically related, and that's because the person is a true believer in a crack-pot, marginal political scheme, and he constantly posts "pious bologna" about his pet cause. I try to keep my feed interesting and manageable.
Mar '11
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
I actually had a good debate with my sister and her left-of-center friends the other day about the Virginia ultrasound bill. Of course, they attacked in an emotional fashion, and I managed to take down their arguments with the facts. While we still disagree, everyone was cordial, and we agreed the debate should've been had in a more intimate environment with some craft beers. I even convinced some of them not to got to a protest, because they might get arrested if the activist organizers violate their permit. I felt I did a good job of showing a pro-lifer as educated and civil, and began winning some hearts and minds.
May '10
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
I'm not on FB that much anymore. During the 2008 campaign, I'd respond with legitimate arguments to liberal friends' posts, and someone would just get snarky and sarcastic. Ricochet is one of the few sites where debate can even be fruitful. I'm looking forward to FB falling out of fashion. Now, I go on FB to wish people happy birthday or comment on new baby pics. I'll use it to write personal notes to old friends, but I just hide obnoxious posts. Luckily, most of the friends I interact with on a regular basis aren't on FB that much or not at all. It's one of the few benefits of living within the area optimistically referred to as the "Intelligence Corridor."
And I agree with previous comments about Jonah Goldberg's book Liberal Fascism. It's great.
Edited on March 13, 2012 at 6:27pmMar '12
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
Probably the best part of my husband's current Facebook debacle is the number of Stealth Conservatives that have messaged him thanking him.
Feb '11
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
Yes Madcap and Fat Dave - you have excellent points. Another friend said to me - "you're not going to convince any of the die-hards, but you never know what fence sitter will see a well reasoned, dispassionate, articulate post and be nudged to the right." I hope this is the case, but I don't want every day to be me versus the cacophony of voices from the left, is that were we are? Perhaps so.
Madcap
Probably the best part of my husband's current Facebook debacle is the number of Stealth Conservatives that have messaged him thanking him. · 16 minutes ago
Mar '11
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
Madcap: I quit facebook a long time ago, but my husband learned some bitter lessons about who your friends are and who they aren't over this last contraception mandate debate, simply for asking why health insurance covered contraception at all.
Having gone to a famously lefty college, we have to choose between keeping our college friends (and we're young, so that's most of our friends) and being able to speak openly about our worldview. It's all well and good to say we shouldn't have to make this choice, but that doesn't make the decision any easier. It's depressing, because I don't WANT to drop my friends because they are liberals. But apparently, simply being conservative is disrespectful to them, or so they tell me. · 6 hours ago
If being conservative is disrespectful to them, then they're not your friends. They're your masters. Break your chains and walk away. Real friends like you as is.
Mar '12
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
Douglas
Madcap: I quit facebook a long time ago, but my husband learned some bitter lessons about who your friends are and who they aren't over this last contraception mandate debate, simply for asking why health insurance covered contraception at all.
Having gone to a famously lefty college, we have to choose between keeping our college friends (and we're young, so that's most of our friends) and being able to speak openly about our worldview. It's all well and good to say we shouldn't have to make this choice, but that doesn't make the decision any easier. It's depressing, because I don't WANT to drop my friends because they are liberals. But apparently, simply being conservative is disrespectful to them, or so they tell me. · 6 hours ago
If being conservative is disrespectful to them, then they're not your friends. They're your masters. Break your chains and walk away. Real friends like you as is. · 2 hours ago
That was pretty much the conclusion we came to. Still hurts, though.
May '10
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
My FB is partitioned into everybody (general and climate change postings, and I warn people when they friend me that I'm a climate change skeptic of the deepest dye), close friends (political postings), and a new category Christian friends (for postings on what's happening with religious liberty). A few friends are restricted from all posts.
I've blocked out all the Whoville, Farmville, Navelintville and "what I had for lunch" stuff.
May '10
Re: Liberals, Intolerance and Facebook
Absolutely right, Diane.
There is some tact required, of course. Most of the time it's not a good idea to debunk someone's original post as that might embarrass them publicly, and they'd get all defensive, and there's sure to be bad feelings all around.
On the other hand, if they dump on one of your own posts, I think it's reasonable and important to correct them, and then just delete their posts if they give you a hard time about it.