Let’s stop the garbage and civilize social media

Seek and share informed, reasoned arguments, urges Michael Fournier

Through work and my personal life, I have had the good fortune of meeting people from all over the world, and from all walks of life. Social media has been a great way to keep in contact with these many acquaintances.

However, I have noticed my social media increasingly becoming politicized and polarized.

Inevitably, every post I read is addressed to members of one tribe, be it left or right. Twitter serves to fuel the fire with 140 characters of why-I-am-right-and-you-are

This makes me uncomfortable. I see nuance in everything. There are very few issues I cannot argue compellingly from both sides. For example, pipelines are a threat to the environment, but I drive every day and realize oil has to get from Point A to Point B, and the government has a responsibility to help bring the country’s resources to market. Trains are not a risk-free alternative.

There is nuance in just about every issue. But nuance does not live in the cute memes or deliberately biased stories that fill my Facebook and Twitter pages.

So what is the harm of this? Well, for starters: Trump. Extreme candidates (check out the Conservative leadership race). Divisiveness. People hating each other.

Most important, the biggest consequence of this is people feeling like they are alone in the middle, like they need to pick sides.

Government happens in the middle. Society happens in the middle. Civility happens in the middle. It happens via compromise, it happens via listening to the other side of an argument and weighing it against yours. It is what grown-ups do. Without compromise, we are just a bunch of primates hurling feces at each other (which, judging from my Twitter feed, is sadly not far from the truth).

So here is my Internet/ social media pledge:

I will not repost anything blatantly one-sided. If I am going to post a view on a politician, I will focus on their policies/actions, and not on anything personal or hateful.

I will think about the tone of what I am writing, and will keep it civil and respectful. I will not use social media to say something I would not say to the person if I were alone in a room with them.

I will not be afraid to intervene, and to call out a friend or a family member spewing garbage. I wouldn’t do that publicly. I would send a private message, or better yet, tell them in person. I believe deep down, people want to be civil. The anonymity of the Internet often brings out the worst in everyone.

Let me reassure you there is hope.

There are writers and pundits on both sides able to argue a point respectfully, able to write in a voice that can and should be heard by both sides.

The Internet is full of intelligent, balanced discussion. If you are making a respectful argument, please share it. If you find somebody is making a compelling argument — for either side — please share!

Read people who write for established media outlets. I am a fan of newspapers — both the paper version or their online platforms. And don’t just read one. Seek out opposing views.

I promise to judge you by whose views you choose to share — so think about it.

Social media has the potential to be the greatest forum of exchanging ideas in world history. It also has the potential to be the colossal mess it has been recently.

I pledge to not add more garbage to the Dumpster fire. Join me!

Government happens in the middle. Society happens in the middle.