Winning a Keyboard Culture War

Last week I started posting some posts (mostly from X, formerly twitter) that spoke of cultural issues, and would start conversation. They are usually posted with a hashtag #foodforthought.

As I began these posts again, I was excited……

but also knew it would bring drama to my facebook page.

Not everyone I’m friends with on Facebook agrees with me about current events. That actually helps me because I’ll need to defend those views in a calm manner. But this also brings drama because my views will be challenged, and it’s not always easy to be calm when this is done (especially when your typing on a keyboard instead of looking in their face).

I am absolutely not the most gifted person at this, but have learned some lessons along the way I’d like to share.

Choose your battles wisely: Nobody can speak on everything! So it’s important to post on subjects that are vitally important to the culture. Your posts about current events should be like a rifle (that is properly aimed at one target) not a shotgun (that shoots buckshot pellets trying to hit everything at once).

Use online posts PROPERLY: allow me to use this as a moment to get up on my soapbox (getting on my soapbox). I almost always use pictures of memes from X (formerly twitter) because they engage conversation. But I ALSO almost always give thanks to the original content creator and put a direct link to the original content in my comments. I’m sure people don’t think I originally created that material but sharing it without at least thanking the creator is very wrong (getting off my soapbox).

Don’t be a Jerk: Just because someone doesn’t agree with you does not mean you have to attack them. I do my best to be respectful to people thanking them for their input even if I don’t agree with them. Your online testimony is far more important than winning an argument.

Don’t feed the Trolls: A troll is someone who says things online just to be controversial. They enjoy stirring up Christians especially by saying the most inflammatory things possible. When they make those statements just smile, and come back to the original point of your post. As someone who has had a post go on for days because I kept responding to a trolls comments let me tell you it does no good 🙂

And deal with the real world: With posts like this I find myself needing to log off Facebook and get away. Personally, this means meeting with Vincentian friends and discussing current events with them (even if we disagree). I’ve found face to face conversation beats being a keyboard warrior any day.

There are other thoughts but again I am no expert. The important thing is to speak towards current events with a spirit of humility and confidence in the truths of Scripture.