So, hey, there’s a presidential election this November. Not sure if you’ve heard.
I have lots of opinions and feelings about all sorts of current political issues – from Planned Parenthood/Komen Foundation to birth control and the Catholic church to taxes and Occupy Wall Street.
But, I don’t (often) talk about my political opinions publicly online.
Ironically, it makes me sad when people say, “I hate politics.” Politics are important! Maybe you hate the political divisiveness or the political system or how politicians have to spend half their time campaigning or how confusing it can be, but political policies and laws and issues and a presidential candidate’s views? Very, very important.
So. If it’s important, why don’t I blog or tweet about politics?
* I don’t want to alienate. I hate when people I love spout political messages I disagree with, or worse, find offensive. I don’t want to be that person for someone else. Maybe some people can compartmentalize and don’t care hearing about those opinions and write off the people as misguided, but I just can’t separate the views from the person for whatever reason. There is a fine line between being true to my beliefs and not being pushy and alienating folks who don’t agree with me, so I play it safe by being quiet. If I knew everyone reading agreed with me, I’d express my opinions openly and passionately, but I know the people I engage with online have a wide variety of passionate political leanings.
* Things can come across wrong online. People in my offline life – coworkers and friends – are aware of my feelings on various political events and issues. We engage in discussions, even if we don’t agree (except for individuals who are rather hostile and hinder any chance of real dialogue). Online, 140 characters are hardly enough to express myself fully. Besides, people offline know all of me. They don’t see one tweet and start Assuming Things and assigning labels to me. They know that our relationship is bigger than politics or disagreements and that I am more respectful and earnest than to ever aim to hurt someone with my words. When I’m expressing an opinion online, much gets lost in translation even after using the Best Translation Companies, which really is an innate type of solecism. Tone is inferred by the reader, and it might not always be what I intended. Again, playing it safe.
* Practically (and boringly), it’s professional. I run a business and my clients follow me on Twitter and read my blog. I don’t want to say anything that would cause someone to stop doing business with me.
* It can be frustrating and disheartening for me. Some people thrive on disagreement and debate, but I am not one of those people. And the truth is, people rarely change their opinions, anyway.
Sanity Saving Solutions:
* Silence the Offenders. If someone routinely frustrates me with their political commentary, I turn off the offending person’s retweets on Twitter and unsubscribe from their updates on Facebook (or in the cases of acquaintances who are radically offensive, I’ll unfollow or unfriend them). The internet should be a pleasant place to go, not one that fills you with frustration or anxiety. Remove people from it who are contributing to those feelings.
* Quietly comment. If I want to comment on a friend’s online tweet/blog post/Facebook political status, I’ll send them a direct message on Twitter, a message on Facebook, or leave a comment. This way, I can tell them I think they’re awesome and I agree without being public about it. I usually don’t comment if I disagree with something. Downright offensive things do get a response, however. Though never angry, just a cheerful little note. And then an “I’m so frustrated” text to Mike or Kat or my sister.
* Don’t get online so much. If you find that checking Facebook and Twitter leaves you shouting at your computer screen and filled with frustration – you either need to do some unfollowing/unsubscribing/unfriending or stop checking those social media sites constantly all day long. (I KNOW. It’s harder said than done. I’m basically talking to myself here. )
* Read opinions you don’t agree with (but stop when you start to feel angry). I truly think that reading articles and blog posts from the ‘opposition’ and learning how to be gracious and attempting to understand ideas you disagree with is important. That said, you probably shouldn’t read the comments. They’ll just make you lose faith in the goodness of humanity. People are more than their politics, but sometimes things get nasty.
I certainly don’t think abstaining from political expression online is for everyone. I appreciate when people eloquently express opinions I share, as well as opinions I don’t. I’m making the decision that’s right for me and my sanity. Truce?
Ashley, this post is wonderful – I’m going to link to it later this week! I completely and 100% agree with you! I try not to say too much online (if I do it’s twitter), unless I’m covering something (like when I was tweeting quotes from the State of the Union). Seriously, this was so well-written – thanks for putting it out there!
I don’t have a blog… but appreciate when bloggers leave their political opinions out of things. I agree that it is too alienating. In my opinion, there are few people that can eloquently state their opinions without offending at least one person.
I’m glad you don’t get too political, I prefer pictures of Gabe and hearing about YOU more anyways :)
While I agree that someone will always get offended from ANY opinion, but that’s not always the fault of the person expressing an opinion.
I think part of the responsibility lies with the speaker and part with the listener. If I express an opinion, say, “I think oranges are the best fruit in the world,” and someone else hears, “You are an idiot for not liking oranges,” I can’t help it, you know?
But politics are a whole other ballgame – one I like to keep to my real-life conversations. :)
Thanks for reading! :)
It’s sad that we live in a culture where expressing our opinions is so alienating. We can’t seem to separate our personal feelings, and we get offended when someone disagrees with us. I’ve actually LOST A FRIEND over debating SPANKING.
I don’t (usually) mind hearing others’ political opinions because I’ve found that through really getting to know that person, you can start to understand why they believe that way. You’re right that this is something that isn’t usually possible online.
This post is getting the slow clap from me. But I’m pretty sure you knew that already. I worry that my level of Ashley Love is reaching creeptastic levels. But YES, YES, YES to all of this.
Well said. I always end up sounding INSANE when I argue in writing which (usually) keeps my mouth shut.
Thing is, I usually don’t keep my mouth shut in person, just on some online venues. ;) And I still sound insane.
This is a tough one. While I respect your business reasons for not blogging/tweeting about politics, I also think it would be a shame if every personal blogger followed your lead. I do believe we learn more about ourselves and our beliefs and sometimes (though rare, for sure), we might even change how we feel by writing, reading and discussing those beliefs with others. I know you’ve read my blog for a while, so you know I don’t shy away from sensitive subjects. I’ve always tried (though not always succeeded) to write in a way that’s understanding of the other side(s). I’ve encouraged everyone, even the dissenters, to comment about my writing, so long as it’s done in a respectful manner. And, to be honest, I’ve grown as a result. There have been quite a few times when I’ve become more open to the other side or at least gained a better understanding about why their beliefs differ from mine, which never would’ve happened if I kept my beliefs to myself. So, I guess I think it’d be a shame if I only saved those posts for people who know me or agree with me or who aren’t going to hate on me, because I wouldn’t grow in the same way.
I appreciate and relate to this post a lot. Of course, sometimes political things slip through here and there :)
For me it’s mostly because I work in politics so I definitely don’t want to spend my non-work hobby thinking about work stuff!
Oh, I think it’s awesome when other people share their opinions in a respectful way (or a more frank way if I agree with them *wink wink*), I just know for my sanity that I am too easily-angered by misinformation for some discussions!
I have to say I have learned this lesson in life the hard way. I have come to terms with the fact that people will never all agree. Hence why we have 2/3 political parties. I’m not a fan of conflict myself, so I hate when I say something referring to politics and it ends with someone disagreeing with me and thinking I am stupid for having the said opinion. I have learned to not comment on others posts because I don’t want to run the risk of upsetting someone else, or getting upset myself when someone disagrees with me. It is hard not to take it personal sometimes, because our beliefs are a part of who we are.
On that note, I love to educate myself by reading and hearing other people’s opinions. Sometimes it’s nice to know why someone has an opposing opinion, because maybe there is something more I need to know before I develop my own. Certain cites can be swayed, so it is nice to hear why everyday people feel the way they day about politics, and understand why certain issues matter to them and why they want certain results. For me, it’s all a learning experience that is constantly shaping who I am.
While I see your reasons for not stating your opinions publicly, I have to agree with Nilsa that I do enjoy constructive discussions about topics that people obviously will never agree on.
I personally do not get into the nitty-gritty of any controversial topics on my blog, but I think I do hint here and there about my political views (which I believe largely share). Sometimes I just feel like I cannot NOT say something when something irks me to the extreme.
I actually admire you for your self-discipline to completely stay clear of any political discussion (although I do enjoy exchanging DMs with you very much! :))
Oh, I absolutely appreciate when people put forth articulate, well-reasoned opinions like you do.
What I do NOT like is when people tweet things like, “OBAMA IS ATTACKING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY!!!!” I also can’t stand when people just say mean things like, “Newt’s head is big!”
Facebook and Twitter are the biggest culprits. I rarely see a blog post that gets under my skin the way inflammatory comments on the other social media sites do. I do love to read posts about political viewpoints! I’m a really huge political nerd, actually.
And I’m really glad I follow some people who are outspoken. But for me to engage online with people I know I disagree with just ends up in frustration. So I’ve gotta do what’s best for me. That said, I totally get into discussions in person with people of differing views – my entire family is vastly different than me politically – and it’s mostly good. But I do find that it can get impassioned quickly!
I HATE POLITICS! But by that I mean that I hate living in a fallen, damaged world, where my convictions about truth and justice require me to pay attention to and participate in political discussion, argumentation, and even activism. (If you read my blog, you’ll know which issues.) I would LOVE to be able to simply go to the polls and vote periodically, knowing that the representatives of all parties were doing their best to abide by natural and moral law. But they don’t, so I can’t. And that’s why I “hate politics.” ;-D
P.S. I would probably like it even better to live in the kingdom of a righteous ruler, where I didn’t even have to participate in the process. But I don’t think I get that until after I die…
I just wanted to tell you how much I LOVED this post… your thoughts on why you DON’T express your political opinions are literally exactly mine. I get you on this, word for word. :) I’m so glad there’s others out there in the great big internet world who feel the same way I do when it comes to politics and blogging about them! I can respect those who do write about their political opinions… I know the internet needs those people too… but I am not and never will be one of them.
thanks for sharing this, Ashley. :)
I absolutely LOATHE reading about people’s political opinions on Facebook because the posts are usually offensive and/or ignorant. However, I do like reading about other people’s political opinions on their blog because (usually) the posts are more well-written and have more thought put into them to express whatever their opinion is on issues.
I have no qualms about sharing my political standpoint if an issue or candidate passionately drives me to do so.
I appreciate reading other people’s opinions and view points because it helps expand my own view point and opinion in that I’ll end up looking at something in an entirely new light that either re-affirms my own opinion or makes me, at the very least, consider the opposing end.
I love this post! And I totally agree it’s a good idea to check out the views of the opposing side. It’s good to be educated on where they stand too, and I’m all for trying to understand things from the point of view of someone else. And I also agree you shouldn’t read the comments on those posts. Comment chains can be a whole dark chain of ignorance and wretchedness and it’s hard not to get mad reading them when it relates to politics.
I’m always interested in hearing why other people, especially politically opinionated people, don’t “get political” online. For me, expressing my political views is just another aspect of my personality. While I make every attempt not to say MEAN things, I have no interest in silencing or quieting my views for the sake of someone else’s comfort. I can respect that others don’t feel the same way about whether it’s appropriate to be political online, but I think there’s something to be said for going for it – too many people are politically silent or, even worse, politically apathetic, that I’m always sort of relieved when people ignore the “political correctness” surrounding speaking about politics (ironic?).
I could lift this post 99.9% (except for the business part) and use it on my blog! ;)
I’m enjoying exploring your blog and the blogs on your sidebars
I LOVE this post! I recently just wrote my first “controversial” topic about sexual assault (while not entirely political, per say) I was EXTREMELY insecure about posting it after I finished writing it. I finally came to the conclusion, that by not posting it, I was actually helping to alienate the victims of sexual assault. HOWEVER, when it comes to presidential politics, religion, etc, I steer clear! I respect everybody of all walks of life, and would never want to offend any of my readers.
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