Facebook disappointments

[alarimer]

I find I cannot interact with Trump fans on Facebook. I went to a 30th (!) high school reunion this summer and ran into a classmate who lives not far from me, and I always meant to get in touch so we could get together sometime. But now I find that she is a major Trump fan, and I have no desire to do that at all. I have not unfriended this person, because otherwise she is a nice person. I just find I can't handle the ignorance and hate anymore. I have deleted here postings from my feed so I don't have to see it.

I know other people have had this quandary. I don't avoid posting about politics on Facebook. They can unfriend me if they want. I don't give a shit if they do; it would make my life a whole lot easier. I just find it sad. I cannot relate at all to anyone who thinks Trump is a good thing to happen. How can anyone fail to see the creeping fascism? And how can anyone not cheer the courts doing the right thing because the President is not above the law.

[True Dough]

1. You're far from being alone

There have been several threads here expressing similar sentiment, like this one:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027696814

[alarimer]

6. This has been bothering me for some time actually.

Years, probably.

[Freedomofspeech]

2. I closed my Facebook account before the election...

Too much hate...I miss seeing the pictures that friends would post but that's it. It was too painful to see the hateful things that people that (I used to like) would post.

[alarimer]

4. Maybe that's the best thing to do

But it's the only way I stay in contact with some family members. My sister (the Trump voter) doesn't post political things and neither do most of my other family members. Some do occasionally. I usually don't, except when responding to posts from like-minded family or friends. I usually don't post on friends' pro-Trump posts. I just hide those. I do, however, follow a lot of liberal politicians on Facebook, including both of my Senators and some others I like. And I often respond to their posts or to posts by NPR or other media. So my political leanings are not hidden at all.

But my sense right now is that most people I know are avoiding political stuff most of the time, except in rare cases. This friend that I wrote about rarely does and what she posted today wasn't hateful, exactly, just profoundly ignorant. And I didn't want to engage at all in any attempt to correct her misinformation. Shouldn't we be trying to do that? I mean I can't think it is a good thing to wall ourselves off from anyone who believes differently, right? Yet, the hate is real. People are nasty to each other, especially online. So maybe we should have places where we don't have to deal with it.

[Freedomofspeech]

7. Unfortunately for me...

I have pretty much walled myself off from Trump supporters. I just am not strong enough to stomach any of them. We are blessed with many "fellow travelers" here in hillbilly hell (Southwestern PA), so I am managing. I wish I had your strength...I'm old...marched in the 60's and again against the Iraq War. I think I'm just tired of the b.s. All the best to you. Peace.

[True Dough]

9. I have unfollowed at least a dozen people

The ones that offend me most are those who insist all refugees should be barred and many who feel so emboldened that they stray into existing immigrants should go back "home," and they don't even differentiate between legal or illegal immigrants.

Makes my blood boil!

[Croney]

3. Yes, disappointment is a good word for it.

Are you on your high school's FB page? I wasn't a popular kid (hadn't always lived there) so never went to reunions -- until the 50th. I joined my class's page and was disappointed to see it dominated by right-wing nutters. I had nothing to lose, so I started speaking up and reporting posts to the admin and reminding people that a class page should be inclusive and nonpartisan. I'm sure they rolled their eyes at the "Massachusetts liberal."

I went to that reunion with my head held high and sat with a few people who had had the courage to back me up. This was in Baton Rouge, so we were a small percentage, but we're looking forward to the 60th in a few years. Maybe the good guys will outlive 'em. 😇

[alarimer]

5. I am. They are wingnuts, most of them.

I went to high school in Newt Gingrich's old district, so that's no surprise. I actually like some of these folks, when I saw them at the reunion. We didn't talk politics, obviously, it was more a nostalgia trip. But I don't know that I need to go again. I do feel that kids like I was, who were not popular in high school, mostly avoid reunions.

[Grammy23]

8. My class had its 50th reunion last year.

I had been to other reunions and for the most part had an OK experience. These were all pre-Facebook. This time I checked out the class FaceBook page and linked to individual class members from there. I discovered they were almost to a person very conservative, uber religious bigots. I looked at all kinds of things available on Facebook...what they read, favorite celebrities, tv shows and music. Also the comments they posted. It gave me an eye opening to window to who they are since graduating from high school. Many still live in the same small Mississippi town, although in honesty some moved away and have held impressive jobs. But THEY are not on Facebook.

So based on the things I saw, I decided not to go to the reunion. I have nothing in common with them other than the fact that we graduated from the same high school. I honestly do not think I could sit at the same table and "forget" the things I saw posted on Facebook about them. Some seem like pretty regular folks who recently retired like I did, have grandchildren and enjoy traveling. But knowing how super religious and ultra conservative they are would never leave my mind. Kind of hard to chit chat with a bigot.

[OriginalGeek]

10. We were good friends in high school

But I got fed up with him this week and just posted on every stupid trump thread he made. Like you, I won't unfriend him but I sure don't understand him any more.

It's not like I didn't expect it though. I went to a Christian high school run by fundamentalists. Most people I know from then are still bigly into religion although there are a few who are not into trump.

This guy though...we used to be close...but that was back when I believed the same Bullshit as them.

I was pleasantly surprised to find 2 of my classmates (who are teachers now) at least opposed the Devos pick.

[pfitz59]

11. I only unfriended a couple of extemists

No idea how many unfriended me. I let them rant. Some are civil, others not so much. My 40th High School reunion is this summer. I'm attending. Still good friends with half the class.