Facebook may be the most amazing invention ever. All you have to do is create a Facebook page and you become an instant expert on virtually every topic in the world. It doesn't matter the subject or your personal qualifications; you have an opinion on it.
What is even more amazing is that you immediately get more courageous. Sitting behind a computer or tapping away on a phone screen, you can boldly express your opinions in ways that you would never think about doing in person.
And, the really cool part is that, if you don't like someone else's opinion, then you can just give them a piece of your mind and tell them how wrong they are. You don't have to have any facts -- just let 'em have it with both barrels because they dared to express (oh my gosh) their own opinion and it doesn't agree with yours.
All of this doesn't by any means represent all of the people who use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family or to express opinions on current affairs. But, anyone who uses Facebook can identify with my analysis.
Maybe you have been guilty of some of the transgressions I just described. And, I probably have been as well. But, regardless, all of us can agree that social media has become the new way to "bully" people and has replaced common respect with rants and raves.
And, it is a snapshot of society as a whole. We can no longer disagree agreeably. We have to paint the opposing view with the nastiest words as possible. And, it is both sides engaging in a war of mutual destruction of respect and dissent.
The cancel culture says that if you disagree with them or you were ever guilty of any sin (in their mind) then you have to pay and pay dearly. Apparently, only perfect people can be honored and perfection lies within their minds to define.
Been quite a brouhaha the last couple of weeks in Neosho. It got my attention because it appeared that the council was trying to prevent churches from being able to meet via a new covid ordinance.
I said my piece to them in an email and attended both council meetings that were held. They managed the whole situation very poorly but, at the end of the day, they made what I consider to be the right decision.
In the meantime, it lit up social media and not all of the bickering was civil. But, again, it is pretty easy to be brave in the privacy of your own home. It's another thing to express your opinion in person.
Most of the people who talked at the second meeting were firm but respectful and some were not -- just like social media. But, I have to say, I truly respected the council for sitting there and facing the wrath of the citizens. Yes, they are elected to own their decisions, but I still respect the way they didn't shirk from that responsibility.
I disagree with a lot of people. I promise I will try to do it more agreeably. Join me in that promise.
Kevin Wilson is a former state representative who was born in Goodman and now lives in Neosho. Opinions expressed are those of the author.