Social Media & The Self Righteous
A while ago I posted a photograph of two rowan trees in blossom on a steep slope on Dartmoor.
It’s a rather aesthetically pleasing and well composed image that I thought might brighten people’s days and maybe (just maybe) convince a few to purchase a print from me.
Two Rowan in Blossom on the edge of Oke Tor on Dartmoor
I posted on all my social media.
I noticed I got this comment on my Twitter feed.
"500 acres, and 2 solitary trees.
This is nothing to celebrate. Building sites have more life on them."
Social Media & The Self Righteous
Apart from being factually incorrect on a considerable number of levels (and it being fairly obvious the person had never actually visited Dartmoor) I struggled to know how to reply to their comment.
I post in numerous groups and some of them attract a good number of “rewilders” in various forms and to varying degrees.
On each of these, people tend to ask questions or want to debate the merits or otherwise of reforesting areas of open land. I am happy to take part.
In this instance, not even an acknowledgement that it is (if I say so myself) a rather splendid image 😥
Now, I usually subscribe to the ‘scroll past’ philosophy of protecting my continually weakening constitution, however, on this occasion, I felt the need to understand the logic (or otherwise) of the comment, even checking his Twitter profile to see whether he were just another sad troll.
Unfortunately, he appears to be a real person (with a genuine desire to save the planet) and for this reason I have decided to start to address certain political issues from this point forward (not on Twitter I hasten to add, I just hid his comment.
Twitter it has it's benefits as a social media, but constructive debating certainly isn't one of them).
So, to my point:
His comment did nothing but stroke his own ego.
It does nothing to forward any argument.
It merely polarises ideas and ideologies.
It also upset me. The main reason it upset me wasn't because I disagree with the sentiment (obviously the content is false) but the commentators desire to make a better planet is something I agree with, what upset me (and continues to upset me on a day to day basis) is the increasing incapacity for human beings to approach anything without either reducing it to a means of bolstering their own self importance, or more worryingly as a way of perpetuating polemic views around absolutely anything.
I am far from a proponent of conspiracy theories however even spending a short time on Social Media these days means you can’t help but ask yourself who is benefiting from all this misplaced antagonism?
That's not to say I’m suggesting there is some malevolent force behind misdirection, but it’s fairly easy for anybody to topple the first domino and watch those already open to their misguided view of the world to spread the message.
What’s more concerning is the way people whose cause I would normally have empathy for are alienating me and others who might hold similar views by failing to police their own indignation.
Let me explain with an example.
I have never been afraid to argue my politics with anybody if they ask me them, or if a debate around something occurs in a natural and unforced social environment (that's a flowery way of saying I never feel the need to 'force' my opinions upon others). With most things, I feel preaching does little to alter viewpoints.
Back to my example :
I do not agree with fox hunting.
It's a complex stance, which I will reduce to a simple fact.
If I had the choice between being shot or chased down by a group of dogs and then ripped apart whilst I was still alive, I know which I would choose.
Again, I reiterate (for clarity sake) I have simplified the argument to one which I feel most people could agree upon (it does not in any way mean that I do not have various other reasons for my position, nor that my views cannot be challenged).
The important part being that I'm against fox hunting.
A long time ago, when I lived in a city I frequented a pub with a fairly liberal left leaning clientele and the pub, on occasion hosted Hunt Saboteur meetings.
Some of those saboteurs were assholes.
(They were all, interestingly, men).
The sort of people who claim to love animals but spray deodorant at horses to 'disrupt' fox hunters.
The kind of people who are trying desperately to fit into a group.
The kind of people who have to be the most obvious and loudest advocate of an idea.
The kind of person who is crass, boorish and a bully.
The sort of person who would be an asshole if they were a fox hunter.
Do you see my point?
Because this is what is happening more and more with the proliferation of social media into our everyday lives.
Dichotomous views achieve nothing.
Trying to win points achieves nothing.
Alienating people who you should be engaging with and discussing options with makes you a fool.
The expression "Shooting yourself in the foot" is perhaps somewhat appropriate here.
Colloquially; your dismissive Tweet or offhand Facebook comment; does little to progress your argument (or at least your viewpoint).
More interestingly in this context (maybe) is the original meaning of the expression, where combatants during the First World War shot themselves in non lethal areas (predominantly the foot) in order to be repatriated and to no longer have to take part in battle.
Today a curt, contemptuous and narcissistic swipe at somebody means you will never actually be called upon to defend your position. Unless of course by an equally misguided but politically opposite self-obsessive.
Regular people who are happy to debate (and may in fact hold similar views) but not naïve enough to take part in a pointless social media mud slinging just scroll on by, maybe with a little ‘tut’.
It’s almost like in the playground when you have the loudest rudest opinion, you know very few will want to waste any time in pointing out the flaws in your argument.
Cooperation and debate, concession and compromise aren't bad words.
The internet is turning people into spoiled little brats.
That’s not a swipe at young people … all ages, all political persuasions, all races, all people are equally capable of being assholes.
I'm not exactly a misanthrope yet I do find myself more often than not; siding with the 'bad' guy in movies who wants to wipe the human race from the planet.
Yet.
I don't feel the need to make unwarranted, self congratulatory comments on peoples posts, even when their posts are blatantly wrong.
I follow people on Social Media (as I have friends in real life) who hold a different political view to my own, I'm pretty sure their views won't be changed by anything they read on Twitter or Facebook, and more than likely the reductive nature of what they read there will actually lead to the reinforcement of any of their already steadfastly held and perhaps prejudiced views.
Stop taking the easy route to making important decisions.
Stop reducing your world view to a meme.
Stop presuming people with different views than you are idiots.
Stop believing that your opinion is any more relevant than anybody else's.
Start debating.
Start listening.
Start educating yourself.
Start questioning everything … especially those things you WANT to hear!
Check out my YouTube Channel (hardly any politics, I promise!)