For me personally, I have many friends and family on Facebook/Twitter who are on both sides of the fence politically. From time to time I have thought about posted something politically charged, only to go back a little bit later and remove it after I’ve thought about the possible repercussions. I am now fully committed to never doing it again.
So, I’ve come up with some reasons why you shouldn’t post about politics on Facebook or Twitter Here you go…
1. You could lose a friend. Friends should be able to discuss political issues calmly and diplomatically…in person! Most people hide behind their computers and post things they would never say face to face.
2. You could lose a client. It’s not business, it’s personal…right? Bull crap! If a client feels strongly about a political issue and I go on Facebook/twitter and post something totally derogatory or counter to what they believe, they might take a different view of me personally and professionally. I want my clients to like me. People do business with people they know, like and trust. Period.
3. It’s a waste of time. You’re not going to change someone’s political beliefs on Facebook/twitter. You can debate and debate, but you’re just wasting your time. People are different and believe different things. Accept it, agree to disagree and move on. Life’s too short. Let your vote be your voice.
4. It’s the wrong platform. If you’re bound and determined to spend time arguing over political issues online, go to a political blog or a news site and do so. Don’t ruin everyone’s experience on Facebook/Twitter with your rants. You may have a specific list of friends on FB that you only share political information with, but you never know what someone else might share.
5. There’s enough politics in the media. One of the reasons I use Facebook/Twitter is to laugh, have fun and converse with my friends and family. I don’t use it to get worked up or stressed out over something I see that I disagree with. There’s enough political coverage in the mainstream media. More than enough. Keep it there and leave the politics to the pundits.
Let me add in what one of my friends a paramedic.. one of the first women medics in the deep south said this week. " Your likes and follows don't feed my family or pay my bills" " Your facebook rants and tweets won't change what I face in this rig on shift" She goes on ... " If you ever spent a shift telling a family dad won't be coming home or a mother that her baby is dead you wouldn't be so quick to mouth off behind that phone or computer screen"
Let's all push back and rethink before posting.
