In The Belly Of The Beast
I stared at my own words unable to focus. For the second night this week, I haven’t quite been able to get much done. Between moving and editing my latest novel, I’ve been tired. I glanced at the clock and shook my head, slightly frustrated with myself. I picked up my phone and opened the Twitter app. Not long into my procrastination trip, I stumbled across tweets between two strangers. The internet can be a slippery slope. I found myself engrossed in a brutal Twitter battle between two people who insisted their particular views were right and everything else was wrong. A seeminly simple exchange of thoughts evolved into name calling and threats. Others chimed in and it became an unnecessary massacre. What were they fighting about you ask? Left vs right, crazy political talk? A triggered response to Black Lives Matters? Who knows really, it was probably a mixture of all of the above.
Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms have connected us all in ways I could have never imagined. Social media has created a space for us to share our thoughts, ideas and small pieces of ourselves with the world. With this sharing comes new friendships and even business partnerships. It really can be an incredible asset in our lives. But there is also a troubling side of the coin that deserves some attention. Some people and entities have used these platforms to spread misinformation and hatred. They sow discord with hardly any consequences and it’s getting worse by the day. Sadly, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Today, there appears to be a wide spread lack of intellectual refinement, empathy and compassion for others. Since the untimely death of George Floyd, Ahmuad Arbery and Breonna Taylor, I’ve personally had to sidestep incoherent racist messages and vicious attacks from people who have taken to social media to express their displeasure with our cause. Many warriors of social justice have used social media to continue to bring awareness to the many gross injustices we as Black people have faced and continue to face. Most often we’re met with anger and rage from those who do not understand, nor care to understand our struggle.
Where do we draw the line? Should be silent out of fear and avoid making people uncomfortable? Never that. When I log into social media I know I’m stepping into the belly of the beast. I’m acutely aware I may be attacked for my beliefs. I expect people to say something irresponsible and utterly racist. While social media at large stretches beyond the bounds of America, my focus is on what I see here. America today is like a poorly maintained vehicle puttering down the highway at dangerous speeds with brakes that haven’t been serviced in years. It’s bad. What you see on social media is a microcosm, it reflects the country’s pulse. Maybe like me, you’re wondering how do you navigate a society that runs from the truth and perpetually invests in it’s own undoing. From viral “Karen” videos to internet bandits to shameless politicians, it feels like we’re stuck in a never ending circus wheel.
How do we protect our peace in the age of shock value, tone deafness and blatant hatred on social media? Here’s what I believe we can do to stay sane.
Sometimes You’ve Just Got to Log Off: There are times I advocate logging off completely and allowing yourself the space to recharge. If you feel bombarded by negative images and it begins to affect your mood, turn it off for your own sake. Be kind to yourself.
Avoid Battles Nobody Wins: Social media is notorious for useless battles. Have you ever went toe to toe with a complete stranger? We’ve all been there, but it’s really pointless. Some battles are worth fighting, but I can assure you that an internet one isn’t one of them. I know it can be tempting to educate someone who clearly doesn’t get it, but it’s often an exercise in futility. If you must, speak your mind and move on. Very rarely has anyone ever changed their views due to an internet argument.
Avoid Serial Pot Stirrers: Seriously avoid people who say perpetually say ridiculous things. People like Terry Crews and Donald Trump just want to get a rise out of you. Engaging people like them will only upset you more. Some people have nothing better to do than to be nuisance. It’s best to ignore them.
The Block Button Is Your Friend: More recently I’ve been using this feature quite a bit and I’m not sorry for it. I block people who disrupt my peace of mind. I choose to use my social media accounts as a conduit of love and positivity. If I feel like someone is bothersome or problematic, I block them. You have to do what you have to do what you have to do to protect your peace of mind.
I hope you found these words helpful today. Next time you find yourself feeling overwhelmed on social media, remember you have the power in your hands. It’s a big world out there with all kinds of people who have their own ideas of what the world should be like. Truth be told, ignorance isn’t going anywhere. It’s here to stay unfortunately. We just have to find ways to navigate around the toxicity that exists.
Justice for Breonna Taylor.