The Real Social Distancing
Is social media to blame for our disconnect, or do we bare the responsibility?
Picture this; you spent a couple hundred dollars to attend what is most likely your first large social gathering since the pandemic. The game’s downtown Boston in TD Garden for the NBA Playoffs- the hype is unreal! Sports fans are finally allowed back in the building for the most exciting part of the NBA season, and you are one of the lucky few who got a ticket. What would you do? Wear your favorite Celtics jersey? Yell at the top of your lungs? Boo the Brooklyn Nets? Yeah, all of the above are expected; yet how could someone brazenly throw a full water bottle at an athlete? The days prior to this, another fan unjustifiably poured popcorn on Russel Westbrook; two fans got into a full on fist fight in Ball Arena as the Suns swept the Nuggets in game four. Where is this irrational behavior coming from?
You could blame Democratic lockdowns for making people go loco, or say it’s just part of sports, but it goes much further than this. The old saying “you are what you eat” couldn’t be truer. I’m not saying these events are happening because people are actually paying to be served the,“triple double”, a monstrosity of two “beer-brat patties, beer-cheese sauce, caramelized onions and cider slaw on a butter-toasted pretzel bun.” It’s about what we’re feeding ourselves mentally. Stay with me here.
I know this newsletter tends to be more about political issues (especially conservative issues), but the way we talk to each other as a nation is absolute savagery. We no longer see people like Kyrie Irving as human beings, but as a source of entertainment and stipulation on our Facebook feeds. How can we respect Lebron James as a PERSON when we treat him like a BRAND? If you had the platform to stand up for a cause, the means to build an entire elementary school for your underserved community, or influence to start a conversation throughout the nation, wouldn’t you do the same thing? I am not here to argue for or against his tactics, beliefs, or views (he’s shown to be out of touch with reality on occasion), but to ask the question- when did we stop viewing each other as human beings, but rather as commodities?
Remember when it was revealed Chick-fil-a was donating large amounts of cash to charities with anti-LGBTQIA+ stances? “How dare they!” the progressive left lashed out. Millions around the country vowed to boycott the fast food giant to promote social change. They wanted to create a ripple by persuading a corporation to change their stance. How is this different from conservative reporters telling NBA athletes to “Shut up and dribble” by saying they have no voice in politics? If anything, this is Laura Ingraham telling all of us that we should shut up and stick to what we get paid for. Our constitution isn’t about that though. We all preserve the right to speak freely for our beliefs, with the resources provided to create the change we want in this world. The issue lies here.
Social media gives everyone a quick trigger. We no longer talk to each other with respect and dignity. We read half of a comment on a post, rushing to argue our point of view. Everyone's an expert, giving their opinion to panels who aren’t even listening to begin with. We are no longer listening to our Uncle Bob’s point of view on the opioid crisis, instead he gets belittled for stating his opinion in the first place. We unadd people and stop communicating with friends from the past, because they post about church as quickly as liberals would stop eating Chick-fil-a. We unsubscribe to relatives who are skeptical about the vaccine, instead of treating them as family while ensuring they’re well informed. We treat our loved ones on social media the same way we treat corporations. How can I buy this hoodie when the Gap used forced labor to make it? How can I associate myself with Frank when he still thinks the election was stolen? You see the eerie similarities don’t you?
Before I go any further, let's take a moment to celebrate one small thing. NONE OF US ARE POLITICIANS!!! How relieving is that. Every word we say, action taken, and status update we post is not criticized on CNN, Fox, or MSNBC. We do not have to line up with Mitch McConnell proclaiming that the era of bipartisian politics is dead. We can be better than them. We can use our voices for positive change and discourse. We can make a choice, right now, to be more open to the opinion of others. It may sound difficult, but I know we can do it because I have proof.
Although Ken Drew and I have been the closest of friends since high school, it’s hard for us to agree on much of anything. I’m a 23-year-old, college educated, agnostic, white, cisgender-male, high school educator. I’m the makeup of the stereotypical radical leftist. Teachers like me are the reason people tell you to pull your kids from public school on Facebook. I'm always up for a healthy two sided debate, however the demonization of progressives AND conservatives on social media boggles my mind. If Ken and I can disagree on 90 percent of social, political, and economic issues, why can't friends and relatives come together and realize we ALL want the best for America?
Take a moment and think about the last thing you posted on Facebook. Did you say something constructive? Did you say something positive to brighten someone's day? Did you make a point of observation without the hostility? Probably not, because it’s F$&#ING Facebook. Americans are quick to jump down each others’ throat and argue in ways we would never do when spending time with each other face to face.
I ask you to consider reaching out to the people on the other side of the aisle more often. Although the point of views you encounter will most likely differ from your own, challenging your own thoughts and opinions can only do one of two things; solidify your beliefs, or give you a fresh new viewpoint. Be patient, kind, and compassionate online, and remember Rule 14: Don’t argue with trolls, it just means they win.
Publisher’s Note: Anything underlined is a link for you to click on if desired. Readers are encouraged to educated themselves and seek other sources for information. I want to thank Matt C for being this month’s guest writer! Your brotherhood will always override the 90%. Lastly, follow Taboo Topic on Instagram @kengine_express to stay in the loop on what’s to come!