General Discussion

Tennessee Gal

(6,160 posts) Sat Mar 17, 2012, 10:08 PM Mar 2012

Facebook can be politically enlightening without intending to be

Here is my problem: I have many, many Christian friends and acquaintances who consider themselves "conservatives" because of their beliefs. I cannot fathom how they can justify as Christians the positions taken by politicians like Santorum, Bachmann, Palin, etc. Yet, they do support some of those types and some even have fallen for the teabaggery foolishness.

How do I know this? Facebook, with all of its shortcomings, irritations, and faults, can be a real eye opener when you watch people you know, even once respected, click the "like" option for right wing radical political sites.

8 replies

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Facebook can be politically enlightening without intending to be (Original Post) Tennessee Gal Mar 2012 OP

yes Tennessee Gal! JitterbugPerfume Mar 2012 #1

Let them think what they will ..... Tennessee Gal Mar 2012 #2

On the other hand ..... Tennessee Gal Mar 2012 #3

Same here Mojorabbit Mar 2012 #4

I am sure some are quite disappointed in me also. Tennessee Gal Mar 2012 #6

My sister liked a pic advocating expulsion from the US... cynatnite Mar 2012 #5

I am not disturbed so much as disappointed. Tennessee Gal Mar 2012 #7

FB also makes me glad I moved where I moved. Arugula Latte Mar 2012 #8

JitterbugPerfume

(18,183 posts)

1. yes Tennessee Gal!

Reply to Tennessee Gal (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 10:16 PM

Mar 2012

I have been enlightened about several "friends" and family after observing them on facebook.Most of them think I have lost my mind LOL

Tennessee Gal

(6,160 posts)

2. Let them think what they will .....

Reply to JitterbugPerfume (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 10:19 PM

Mar 2012

I know that I am very disappointed in some people I once held in high regard. One in particular I consider to be one of the finest Christian women I have ever known. She is very dear to me. I was SHOCKED to observe some of the right wing fanatical sites she "liked" on facebook.

Tennessee Gal

(6,160 posts)

3. On the other hand .....

Reply to Tennessee Gal (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 10:25 PM

Mar 2012

I have also "friended" two liberals in my area just from observing their "likes" and comments on facebook. We communicate and share links through the messaging and chat features. Without facebook I would never have known them. One of them is a delegate to the state Democratic Party convention.

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)

4. Same here

Reply to Tennessee Gal (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 10:43 PM

Mar 2012

It has been a huge disappointment in some people I also held in high regard.

Tennessee Gal

(6,160 posts)

6. I am sure some are quite disappointed in me also.

Reply to Mojorabbit (Reply #4)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 10:52 PM

Mar 2012

However, I try to be very discreet and selective in what I post. In some cases, I cannot refrain myself from commenting on obvious falsehoods.

It would be nice to have a calm rational discussion, but when people have gone off the deep end regarding hatred of Obama or belief in outrageous right wing idiocy it becomes impossible to discuss anything.

cynatnite

(31,011 posts)

5. My sister liked a pic advocating expulsion from the US...

Reply to Tennessee Gal (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 10:51 PM

Mar 2012

anyone who did not think like them. I asked her about it and she was proud of it. She made it her user pic for a time knowing how I felt about it.

Facebook has it's uses, but it can shed a disturbing light on people we know.

Tennessee Gal

(6,160 posts)

7. I am not disturbed so much as disappointed.

Reply to cynatnite (Reply #5)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 10:55 PM

Mar 2012

And I will never let my closest friends know of my disappointment in them unless they make a ridiculous political statement in person. In that case, I will politely question their information or share where they might learn the facts about an issue.

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)

8. FB also makes me glad I moved where I moved.

Reply to Tennessee Gal (Original post)

Sun Mar 18, 2012, 01:01 AM

Mar 2012

My FB friends from Portland (where we've lived for awhile) are great -- almost all of them are very liberal and make great comments and frequently post progressive content. My friends from other places I've lived tend to not be so liberal. Some get it, which is a pleasant surprise, most are not political (at least not overtly), and a few turned out to be Republicans, including a nutty Ayn Rand fan. I've felt closer to my Portland peeps after joining FB.

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