Social Media's Big Failure

Last week I fell off the wagon.

My involvement in politics and current issues ran deep for many years.  (Chairman of state Christian homeschool organization, chairman of state political party, teacher and co-writer of constitutional curricula.) I decided to make these topics parenthetical.  I carefully wrote and reread my social media posts to avoid offense, not responding to responses that would lead to debate.  The plan was essentially successful. 

Until last Friday.

Most media outlets then reported that President Trump spoke disparagingly about Haiti. A Facebook post appeared with a friend’s view of this report.  I assumed the worst and responded with my opinion. An opposing voice argued contrarily with all and the discussion moved to ‘he didn’t say, they said.’ Civility disappeared and the thread with it. Fortunately, the discussion was removed after my second posting. I may have made things worse.  

While climbing back onto the wagon of media self-restraint I made some observations.

No one wins arguments on Facebook.  Even with the best intentions the search for truth is rarely successful.  In this case, the White House did not immediately deny the statement.  Two Republican senators did.  A Democrat senator claimed it was said.  Another person reported that it was not exactly the language used.  What really happened we may never know.

We support the media that agrees with our social view.  Several perspectives arose from this event.  Many Republicans backed the claim.  “That’s just the President being tough.”

Some Christians had no problem with the alleged foul language. Others were apologetic.  “He shouldn’t have spoken so crudely.  But he is getting things done.” 

Democrats generally remain in a state of disapproval.

I wonder how these two parties would argue if the supposed words were uttered by the opposite party’s president.   

Independent voters on each end of the political spectrum can say, “We told you he shouldn’t be president.”

The availability of unverified, internet information brings a unique challenge.  Information does not guarantee truthful knowledge.  For cutting edge apologist Francis Schaeffer, “true truth” is the conviction that there is such a thing as Absolute Truth and that, as Schaeffer puts it: “it is possible to know that truth, not exhaustively but truly.”*  Jesus said that truth is God’s Word. The more time we spend reading and learning God’s Word the truer our truth will be.  Our media responses will be based on truth, not used as a club but delivered in love.

That’s a great wagon to ride.

*http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unsystematictheology/2017/01/true-truth-isnt-answer-post-truth/#6ELeU7ErzVX3POPu.99