Disengage, deactivate and vote

Remember, we cannot control what our Facebook friend posts online. And we possibly won’t be able to change their color or even get them to absorb your side of things. But we can control how we respond

Much of the rise in online shaming, canceling and political bullying has to do with the changing culture and the means to insult others on the web

Everyone has one -- that Facebook friend who posts unpleasant, and sometimes offensive, political statements, articles and memes all the time. You know -- that homie that has an intense opinion about anything and everything political.

Even if you concur with their political sentiments, you cringe at the provocative way they express their opinions. If you find yourself in this situation, you are not alone. In fact, unfriending someone for their “toxic” views is fairly common.

Well, we are all aware that civility in politics has been decreasing for a long time and everyone is losing patience with the rhetoric. Much of the rise in online shaming, canceling and political bullying has to do with the changing culture and the means to insult others on the web.

Truth is, it is not surprising that we have become freer with the use of words. This has become painfully evident in the past years as religious and political disagreements become more and more volatile. And while many have seized the freedom that social media provides, just as many are simply fed up.

So to me, the best way to deal with cringeworthy political posts is to simply scan through them and move on, especially if the post is simply a rant laced with name-calling. An even better option is to ignore them altogether.

Remember, we cannot control what our Facebook friend posts online. And we possibly won’t be able to change their color or even get them to absorb your side of things. But we can control how we respond. And if going through their posts ruins your day, or causes you anxiety, then it is healthier for you to disengage and deactivate. Do not allow another person’s blanket bullying statements ruining your sunshine.

At the end of the day, we are called to express our freedom and will not through our social media feed but on the day of the election.