Jesus said, “Do to others, what you would want them do to you.”
How many Christians keep that in mind, when they post a comment on social media?
Reacting to comments
I’m aware that it is easy to be riled by someone who makes an unthinking, ignorant, and downright nasty comment online. I know how easy it can be to simply react, and post something that’s belittling or demeaning, and puts down the person who’s commented. It’s easy because often the posts are anonymous, and I have no idea who that person is or what their circumstances are. All we see is the post, and so we react to that.
But would we respond in that way if the person was in front of us? Would we even respond at all?
How lies gain an audience
The advent of social media means that the disgruntled, the wacky, the obsessive, and reactive all have an opportunity to voice their opinions, and because of algorithms, such posts can go viral, and reinforce others who have made similar comments. This is how complete and utter lies have gained traction; there are still many people, for example, who believe that the PM’s fiancée, Clark Gayford, has to face drug charges in court, despite the fact that the police have issued a statement saying that he has no charges to face for anything. Someone began the lie, and it was repeated often enough that people thought it must be true. (That master of Nazi propaganda, Josef Goebbels said: If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself.)
Viral hatred
Not too long ago, people with negative and nasty comments voiced them locally, but they didn’t have the opportunity to spread them online. That’s why the hatred thermometer in NZ society has reached dangerous levels. Whatever the causes of such animosity, there is no denying that it has grown exponentially in recent years, largely due to the currency that social media provides for any opinions.
Judgmental hatred expressed by Christians
One of the things that disturbs me the most is how some Christians bring in the name of God, in posts that revile our Prime Minister. They make horrible comments, calling her evil and a witch, in such judgmental ways, as if they have a God-given right to do so. Regardless of our political affiliations, Christians are called to pray for those in authority – and I see so little evidence of a humility that seeks the best good of those who are in leadership, by praying for grace and wisdom for them. Of course, we can disagree with political decisions, and debate the issues, but we are called to do so, with respect for the other person.
Responding online
So how do we respond to this situation? I see four options:
1. Avoid social media altogether.
2. Pray – then engage with the haters and the nasty by refuting their arguments, (if they have any) and thereby showing that not everyone thinks the way they do.
3. Post positive comments only and ignore the haters.
4. Report the posts to the owner of the Facebook page, if possible. (Many news outlets have stopped people commenting, or mediate theircomments.)
Any response we make depends of course on the amount of time we are prepared to give, or have available, and also on our ability to post pithy and pertinent, intelligent comments. For some avoiding social media may well be the best option - it’s understandable that many do, because they can’t countenance the pollution of their minds that reading such posts may bring.
Those who can engage with the arguments shouldn’t be afraid of doing so, if only to show that not everyone agrees with the nasty and the negative. When a post is attacking a person, and there’s nothing of substance in it, then it’s best to ignore it and not even click a laughing emoji. The fewer reactions the post-er gets, the better. Positive comments too have their place; they can change the tone, and leave the nasty to-and-fro comments on a dead-end thread.
Human beings, not robots, post comments
How we engage all comes back to how we see the person who’s commenting. Do we see each one, as a fallible but human being – as each one of us is? Are we going to treat them with dignity and respect, no matter how nasty they have been? As we would want to be treated? I personally find that very hard to do – I so easily disparage and despise such people - but I am trying very hard to remind myself that behind each comment is a person, who needs God’s mercy and grace. Just like I do.