Facebook Etiquette – Don’t delete shit

Something has been irking me the last few days and no, it’s doesn’t relate to starving children. If they were really that hungry, they could eat their friends. Everyone knows that children are full of delicious vitamins and meats.

What has been on my mind as of late, is etiquette in the face of those you disagree with. Now, I am not talking about being sarcastic or putting someone in their place with facts or humor, I am simply referring to the act of letting others disagree. I could go on for hours about the many different forms of argument and debate and when sarcasm, humor or cold facts are best applied, but that’s boring as shit and reading is for nerds.

What ever happened to letting someone disagree with you and giving them the courtesy to do such a thing? I am well aware that there are certain things that we can not allow a disagreement on. Rape, Slavery, Racism and Intolerance – all good subjects when one is looking for a way to say, “Sorry, there is no disagreement allowed on this, these things are wrong and you are a disgusting pig person for defending them.”

However, I am speaking of broad and lofty things like politics and policy. When did we start deleting the comments of others, because they said something we disagreed with. Berate them, insult their intelligence and beat them down with facts… sure, but delete their comments out right? Or what about comments that are not even a form of disagreement, but a joke? We all have the co worker or friend who posts the most vulgar things on their Facebook pages, ranging from how they like to screw to which co workers they would fist, but when you post a sexual joke on their wall, they shit their pants. (Then they post a note about the consistency of their shit). All of a sudden all of the personal and over the line crap that they posted never existed and they attempt to scold you for being unprofessional on their Facebook wall, while three posts below their is a quiz about which kinds of balls they prefer to put in their mouths. Stop adding your co workers and family, if you don’t want people to see the person you really are. It really is that simple.

That’s social networking integrity for you.

I bring all of this up, because last week my father had posted a quiz on his Facebook page and it related to politics. The question was “Should President Obama shut down Fox News?” Right away, the question is a bait and switch for the easily angered. Not only does the president lack the power to do such a thing, but the man can barely pass a health care bill that most of us want, how in the world would he shut down America’s favorite circus act?

My dad had commented on this quiz, saying “No, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try.” As if telling the press pool he will not interview with Fox News, is the same as shutting down a multi billion dollar propaganda agency.

Some of his friends weighed in, made some jokes and even agreed with him, in typical “easily terrified Republican” fashion. However, one of his friends pointed out “how stupid the poll was and that is was obviously made to rile up irritable idiots”. I laughed and commented in return how we needed to stick together as a country and solve our problems, that there was no integrity in being upset about the fictional destruction of Fox News, while screaming about the Constitution, only to admit you did nothing when Bush ripped the Constitution in shreds and made no qualms about it. Needless to say, my comment was deleted within a few hours.

Now, keep in mind, I never said anything rude or attacked anyone. I just made a counter point. I figured, if you felt strongly enough to post something on your facebook page, then you should feel strongly enough about it to allow people the right to discuss it.

I love my father, even though we have never been close, but it frustrates me that as adults, we are unable to discuss matters without him shutting down the conversation.  Such is life and I have come to accept this. I suppose, that if I were not born gay and never bothered to attend college,(not because college makes you liberal, but because it opens your eyes to a whole new world of people and views) I may feel the same way. I would hope not, as that would be a very telling sign of my character.

Let this be a lesson to all of you! Don’t delete my comments or I will be forced to write a vaguely personal note about you on a blog that no one reads. You have been warned! Wink

UPDATE: It was my mother who deleted the comment, not my father. So apologies to him for assuming he was the only one with access to the account. The plot thickens…

UPDATE 2. I have removed my parents from my Facebook account to avoid further trickery and sneaky-ery. Yes, those are words.