When memes turn mean, FB friend is hurt

DEAR AMY >> What do you think about friends and family who are nice to your face, and yet post derogatory, indirect comments (usually via memes) making fun of vegetarians (which I am), stating how stupid liberals are (I am liberal), and more or less making statements they would never make to my face?

I usually ignore these comments, but it makes me question the character/sincerity of those who feel compelled to passiveaggressively sling mud.

Am I taking this too personally?

What do you think about this? — Confounded

DEAR CONFOUNDED >> Do you ever post comments or memes poking fun at or otherwise deriding meat-eaters, frackin’ lovin’ gas guzzlers, narrow-minded Trump-lovers, and the like? If not — good for you. If you never post any comment directed at your cultural and political opposites, and if you never post or share memes mocking politically conservative people, then you get to feel sensitive about this now.

I suspect, however, that you probably have passed along a posting, joke or comment about, for instance, Sarah Palin’s ability to see Russia from her front porch. But — when you do it, it’s called “humor.” When others do it, it is offensive.

If you do post politically pointed or derogatory items — and if you are polite, decent and kind to people who are politically opposite of you, then you are being as passive-aggressive and hypocritical as you accuse various friends and family of being.

The reason these politically opposite people are nice to your face is because they like you. The reason these same people post insensitive memes mocking vegetarians is because they have decided to forgive you for your supposed “flaws.” They’ve put you in a separate category from everyone else and think it’s fun or funny to mock strangers.

Your choices are to push back on the same platforms where you see these postings, or (my vote) use a filter to “hide” these types of posts.

Amy Dickinson