In a recent online discussion, the poster of an article on a very contentious topic enjoyed an avalanche of likes and supportive comments from friends and family members of similar persuasion. But one family member tried to help soften the collective view of the opposition as everything from crazy and stupid, to downright evil. After challenging this consensus on point after point, and using evidence and scientific findings not in alignment with the embraced narrative, the creator of the thread said this, “Please don’t argue on my Facebook page. I don’t go on your page and denigrate your posts.” Can Creator comment on why so many people see a highly contentious topic thread they create as somehow equivalent to a holiday party in their backyard, with the unspoken rule that you “never criticize the host?”

There can be legitimate differences of opinion about propriety and the rights of free expression, but to express oneself freely in an open forum like social media and then cry foul when someone comes along with a different view and calls you out because they disagree is hypocritical in a general sense. It is the same with any discourse when people converse with one another—if they are social equals both parties can state their views and may defend them vigorously without this seeming to be an insult or a challenge, depending on the tone and level of respect maintained in acknowledging people’s right to hold differing views. What you are describing is the imperfection of existence in the current climate where people are disconnected from the divine and are floundering on their own, largely, in knowing what to think and feel and are surrounded by competing voices and agendas, many of which are corrupted and carry within them non-divine beliefs and attitudes. When such thoughts are spoken, in effect, on a posting in social media, it is naive to think this will have no consequences and must be above reproach when it may in fact truly injure someone by stepping on their sore spots and perhaps legitimately so. The whole idea of social media as a platform for a free exchange of ideas is compromised when people begin to make exceptions. The idea of censorship through social negative feedback and, in effect, in extremes a shunning of someone who is beyond the pale in their level of virulence, can serve as a healthy correction when people go overboard without regard to the feelings of others. There will always be individuals like that who need a comeuppance to keep them from spoiling the party, but there are many situations short of extreme behavior where differing views can be singled out for a huge backlash to ostracize them and denigrate them because of their differing perspective. That becomes a slippery slope where things degenerate into a level of ugliness that is becoming all too common with many people looking for opportunities to attack others and it ends up being largely destructive, rather than a constructive sharing of ideas where one can have an awakening to a new perspective that will raise them up if they are open and not first subjected to offensive remarks that are wounding.