Water Cooler Politics — alabaster bridges

Being a differently wired family, Facebook has saved my sanity a 100 times over. It has been a safe haven to find families with the same struggles as us, to research and connect in solving challenges. It has also been a place for me to give back to those communities.

A lot of folks (including me) are infuriated with Facebook because of lack of regulation. But is because of the aforementioned differently wired-family-point, that I don’t feel I have the luxury of rejecting Facebook. Similarly, because I am struggling with being American right now, I don’t feel I have luxury of avoiding politics where I socialize.

With the event of Covid-19 Social media like FB has become our town square AND our water cooler. Many working at home or who stay-in-home need that. I don’t believe it is realistic during these crazy times and during a presidential election to expect that this conversation not happen. (Though more enjoyable when it is a conversation and not just a broadcast).

Countelss FB friends privately comment that they appreciate my political posts. It sometimes takes me by surprise because they are often people who never like or comment publicly. Some of those friends don’t feel they have the social freedom to do so due to their associations, workmates for example. (Though I’ve noticed them getting bolder!) Of course, many people fall off my FB radar and I am certain it has to do with my political posts.

Recently a online friend I respect posted that they dislike when their FB friends make politics posts. It made me wonder what about them they don’t like? What falls under that umbrella? Your umbrella? What is acceptable if anything? It also got me thinking about why I do this.

I do political posts for a few reasons these days....

I have friends and family that are staunchly the opposite of me. What if their point of view is evolving or growing and if they have questions, or want to have a conversation about something they read? I want them to know that I am open for that for that business. I am here to stay, they know it and I’ve enjoyed the benefit of that.
Also, I’ve found FB to be not a bad place to chip away at change and in bridge gaps. I’ve seen folks come out of their shells for these conversations, and/or become challenged to get more educated or involved. I’ve seen it impact change in offline behavior. I’ve engaged with people who post things that aren’t true and we’ve grown together. I’ll take every inch of growth on things so urgent right now. It is what our country needs. Some think these posts are divisive but I see the other side of it through engagement that happens because of it.
I’ve got a differently wired family. I see things thru that lens. I have black and brown and LBGTQA friends who all have their own different lens’. We don’t have the privilege of not having that lens. Basic communications 101 is that everyone has a filter. It influences both what we hear and what we say. The motivation isn’t always just what the reader thinks it is, sometimes what seems political to one filter can be so much different or more through another. I challenge everyone who rejects what they see as purely political to consider this. A vivid example would be the families of people who were killed. Is the motivation for what they say political? Families of healthcare workers or teachers or special needs students all have a different point of view about schools opening. Is their point of view political? Families of medically vulnerable persons, is their mask wearing post political?
I believe that these times require being present and real. There is fatigue on all sides, and many manage by putting their heads in the sand. Though sometimes wish I could, that just isn’t in my composition. I believe we all need to stay awake, and it is hard, and we can help each other. So I am not yelling — but am modeling when I post.
Because…Portland! Recently I’ve had multiple out of state people asking me what the hell is going on here - the actual events are highly political — and relevant. When all this business started, you would have thought we had serious riots based on the coverage. It was the unrelenting posts of people on the ground who corrected that perception and continue to do so. We are not we are the only city in this situation so I feel obliged to share. I am glad to see some of the media at least, has come around to report what is actually happening.

I am guilty of political posts in spades and wanted to share why that is. I would love to hear what kinds of political posts work and don't work for you? No one has told me directly that they dislike what I am doing, but I know there is always opportunity to do more and do better.