This icky feeling comes over me whenever I log into Facebook for so many reasons. The primary source bothering me now is politics - I hate the stupid filtered selfies too, the constant updates by people acting as if they are celebrities on a reality show also, but the political ranting is the worst nuisance at the moment.
People should keep their political opinions off the service. Were they not taught that politics and religion should not be mentioned in polite company?
A friend from way back, said a few years ago that she used to love to discuss politics with me in the 1990s. I eschew such now, but I enjoyed the conversations then and we did not agree on everything. In the 90s it was possible to have a political conversation and disagree, but not now. People have wrapped their entire being into one of two teams, either red or blue and cannot be civil or believe they know everything or believe in stupid conspiracy theories. I blame social media, identity politics, television, print and internet media and the lousy politicians for this change.
It is not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing or being a Republican or Democrat or a Whatever-the-fuck, it is just inappropriate to spew your political rants on Facebook. Unfortunately, it is an election year and people have nothing better to post between the beach selfies and memes. It makes me wish I could find a way to permanently leave that service behind.
What has been on my mind is how it felt for Soviets prior to the collapse in 1991 when nothing made sense for them and whether some saw it coming or not. It makes me think of those Adam Curtis documentaries for the BBC, especially TraumaZone which is about the Soviet Union and Can't Get You Out of My Head which is more about the U.S. and Europe. The documentaries of Curtis are a bit of an acquired taste I admit and they do require the viewer to give them a chance so I doubt the Facebook loudmouths have the patience for them.
The United States is deeply
troubled, has been for several years, and I wonder where it
leads. I do not recognize this country after decades of social and political upheaval. It is not the country I was born, raised and enjoyed much of my life. What a somber Fourth of
July.
View from a Hill - The Chameleons
Posts
