I hesitate on my post title, because I think, “does anyone really care?” Yes, I know people care. People care too much. Not about what I am saying, but they care too much about what everyone is saying. I care too much about what you and them and they are saying. And the problem is that everyone is saying something all of the time. And with an election going on, one like we’ve never seen before, opinions and over-sharing is at an all time high.
I’m not here to talk politics. Except to tell you this is the first election where I’ve been very unsure of who to vote for. I’ve always, with ease, picked a politician in the past and stood by a particular party. Not being sure is on my mind.
Yesterday when I voted I was stopped at the polling place to sign a petition and I felt pressured. I didn’t feel the man explained his point well, and I didn’t want to put my name on anything. More information thrown at me. Decide. Sign. Now. When I exited the polling place the other petitioner stopped me (aware that I didn’t sign on my way in) and tried to pressure me. Then I was firm in my, “no.”
I watched the news last night, as I’m sure many of you did too. I checked Twitter for the chatter and even logged on Facebook which I’ve pretty much forsaken.
And while I felt undecided about politicians, politics and even petitions I did decide this….it appears to me that both sides are using fear to motivate others to see their point of view. I’m not talking, specifically, about politicians, I’m talking about everyday people with platforms, big or little, on social media. Even those that are saying things like, “we must choose love and not fear.” Essentially fear is still the main motivation. Because, “If he gets in office, then …..” “If she gets in office, then…” Smells like fear to me.
While cruising through the chit chat on Twitter, while watching the winners give their speeches, I was really disheartened by what I was reading. Things like, “Look at his son’s greasy hair.” What does that have to do with anything and isn’t that somewhat hateful to judge a person based upon how they style their hair?
What’s on my mind is that everyone is saying too much. And a lot of things people, politicians, the media, facebook friends, and family are saying are not accurate. In a day and age where information is instant and comes from anyone with a phone there really is no way to fact check before things go viral.
It’s a complicated world we live in and it seems to me that the definition of media has changed from “news media” to “social media.” Somewhere between “1990 something” and “2000 now” we have decided to take our news from anyone and everyone. I wonder if it would be simpler if we just went back to the morning paper and the evening news. The news was the news and there were editorial pieces. Today it seems everyone everywhere is writing 140 character editorials all day long and we are lucky to find an un-opinionated factual news piece in the mix. This is on my mind.
I’ll keep sharing, you’ll keep sharing. We have a lot on our minds. Only, I do know that we don’t have to share everything that is on our minds. Some opinions, conversations, and realizations are meant for conversations that are of the one-on-one variety, not the digital kind. And some things, as we all know, are better not said at all.
While it appears fear is being used from both sides, I pray it’s not what motivates you or your decisions. I want to be a person who checks for the facts and is guided by faith and love.
A few links that I’ve actually enjoyed on politics recently:
+ A humorous clip from Seth Meyers talking about facts and Facebook
+ A beautifully written piece on The Lay of the Land
+ Input as to why some are surprisingly voting the way they are this election
image: Getty Images