It’s prom night in my home town. I only know this because of Facebook. I have a love/hate relationship with the behemoth of social media. Some things I thoroughly enjoy – catching up with old friends, seeing pictures of their children, getting inspiration for craft or house projects, ranting about my commute. Other things I really hate – political posts top that list, followed by all the ads and click bait, then the duck faced selfies from people old enough to know better. Today I am enjoying it – seeing pictures of daughters and sons, nieces and nephews getting ready for the prom – it’s really a treat to get a glimpse at the preparations. Later I am sure I will see the finished products and all the smiles of these young beauties heading off to have some fun. This is the best of FB and in my opinion the only way it should be used. Show me the good things in life – your kids getting ready for the prom and your newly painted sunroom. Show me your dog chewing on a shoe – or your cat drinking from your cereal bowl (actually that was me). Tell me when you’re having surgery and want my good wishes. Tell me when you’ve lost someone and you need my prayers or a shoulder. Post your wedding pictures, your newborn daughter, the dinner you cooked last night. Tell me when there’s a good sale at Macy’s, or there’s a concert coming up. Tell me when it’s your birthday, your anniversary. Post pics from the 80s when you had big hair.  I love all these things and I love you a little more when you post them.

Back to the prom… it got me thinking about my prom date from dear Lord, 27 years ago. He wasn’t a boyfriend, just a friend of my cousin’s who looked good in a tux, danced with me a few times and was tall enough to not be blocked out by my wall of hair in the picture. We’d lost touch after college, I wondered what he was up to so I went in search of him. Though I am still rather FB inept – I found him pretty quickly despite his common name. I was about to send the friend request when I noticed he shares quite a bit publicly. I scrolled…there were a couple of Bruins game shout-outs but almost every post was politically charged. And he posted every day, sometimes more than once a day. I sighed and closed out of his page and went on with my day. It was a little sad, but what I don’t want to see every day is someone else’s very strong opinions on whatever political brouhaha is currently boiling over. If you know me, you know my political leanings. And I can tell you, anyone who feels strongly or even moderately about their politics is not going to be swayed by a FB post. I have only been on FB since last July so I can’t speak to the previous election cycles but here we are almost 7 months later and people are still posting like it happened yesterday. And no matter what side of the fence you’re on – if every third post is about politics – you need to get over yourself and the election. Here’s the cold hard truth – no one cares what you think about politics. No one cares what I think about politics. Political beliefs are a very personal thing – and mindless, obnoxious, venomous posts and especially reposts of someone else’s venomous opinions – are not going to make anyone change their way of thinking. I didn’t wake up one morning and decide I was a Republican. I’m almost 45 years old. I read a lot. I stay current on the news. I know what I believe and that aligns almost exclusively to the right. That’s me. My opinion. My beliefs. My upbringing. My values. You might be my polar opposite politically – but I can still like you, love you, respect you or just have a normal conversation with you. What I can’t do is change your mind – nor do I really want to. You came to your beliefs I assume the same way I did – and if that’s your opinion – that’s great. Nothing I can do or say is going to change the way you see the world. And nothing you say or do is going to change the way I see it either. Every time you post your political opinion – what you are really saying is, “I’m right; you’re wrong. What I believe is good; what you believe is bad. You should think like me.” This country was founded by people who didn’t want to be forced to do or believe in anything. Somewhere along the line that got lost. Now all most people want is an echo chamber and a bunch of bobbleheads agreeing with whatever they say. If that’s your belief so be it. But guess what? I don’t have to be subjected to it. I have unfollowed and unfriended quite a few people over the last several months. On both sides of the political spectrum I might add. Not because I was offended or didn’t agree with them but because they had become tedious and boring. So if I haven’t commented or liked anything in awhile – that’s why. I’m sure I’ve missed some of the good things you’ve posted and that’s too bad for me. But until they come up with a way to filter off the politics I will err on the side of caution and just not read any of it. I look at FB to be entertained and if you aren’t giving me at least a chuckle now and then – what good are you? If I want to read about politics I know where to go – newsflash – it’s not FB. It’s a complete waste of energy to post politically charged items there. If you’re that passionate – put down your smartphone and go do something that might actually make a difference. In the mean time, if you find yourself no longer privy to my vastly entertaining train rants and cat pictures it’s because you are no longer bringing anything to the table, I’m not here at your convenience and you were the weakest leak – good-bye!

That’s not to say you can’t EVER post anything political – once in while if something really speaks to you – sure why not? That’s part of who you are and if I like you I accept that. Just follow it up with some Rubix cube solving videos or your vacation pics. And if this offends you in any way shape or form – here’s the good news – you don’t have to listen to me either.