I’ve unfollowed a couple of excellent creators over the past three weeks.
Originally, I followed them because of their skills at writing, building, mechanical know-how, and humor. I knew their views were not mine, but I can overlook that for the sake of sanity. I don’t need to know every detail of what you dislike or who you hate for whatever reason.
One thing you can count on when dealing with social media is that twenty percent of the folks you read for content, enjoyment, laughs, and a break from the everyday ho-hum, is that they are going to let loose on a tirade, probably when they are mad about something that happened on a national scale.
If you start off with politics as your muse, you’ve set the bar, and there are a lot of folks who want to read your views or opinions on our 50/50 split (give or take) in these here United States. And you certainly can expound on your politics, but don’t make it all about that every day. Just as I’d probably not sit around and talk politics all day with a group of friends, I don’t need a steady diet in my social media reads.
I know what I believe, and I know what I think about daily. If I followed your writings because of politics, that’s on me.
If I follow you because you are interesting, skilled, funny, angry, with a side of sarcasm, I don’t really need to know much more.
I got a note from one of them, a good person. I explained my reason for the unfollow, and we had a good exchange. I gave them my opinion, probably one that they didn’t know I had. I’m a dichotomy of ideas, and I enjoy someone trying to change my opinion in person, but not on the socials.
Why do I write this today? I have no idea. I read a variety of viewpoints, searching for them sometimes. But I like people, and dislike a few, based on more than their political leanings. We can disagree, and I can still find you a good person whom I count as a valuable friend.
I always relished that about our country.
My friend, a different one, unnamed as of this writing, told me this morning that he has unfriended a couple of folks, but later called them to tell them that they are different in person than they are on social media.
He said, “We are, of course, still friends, but Facebook friendships do not equal or come close to our real friendship. So don’t take it personally that we are no longer deemed friends by the Facebook definition, because I’ll still have coffee with you and we are still pals.”
I liked that approach.
I’ll keep it light, here, mundane, if you will. Darkness permeates our everyday lifestyles far too much. I need some levity, enjoyment, and casual laughs.
Thanks for following.
If you’ve been a supporter or member in my BuyMeACoffee support group over the last few years, I want to say thank you so much. Consider it in the new year, it’s how we keep the pages filled with missives. You are the straw that stirs the drink, as they say. Whoever they are.
Stay out of trouble this week. Please?
From the Jagged Edge of America, I remain,
Just TC