Issue 4: Politics

POLITICS

Are you with us?

Opinion: Discuss Politics, and Keep the CourtesyBy: Sabrina Moyes

Today, politics saturates social media. Observing this sudden transformation has left many of uswondering what exactly social media is doing to the way that we affect the political system and moreoveraffect each other.

The platform of social media apps like Twitter tend to polarize political views. Katy Steinmetz contends in her article, “Popularity on Social Media? Not cool,” that “tweets containing strong moral and emotional language,” or moral outrage, “are about 20% more likely to get retweeted.” The effect of this desperate need to manipulate social media for attention in our political discussions is part of a larger wave of polarized thinking. More neutral political accounts that don’t really call for that same level of moral outrage are left in the dust with minimal following, which means the far left and far right are left to scream over each other, despite the fact that many Americans belong to neither group. It is no wonder people have lost their cool in political discussion, especially on these social platforms.

In essence, the middle ground has disappeared into thin air. The everyday political conversation haslost its civility. We dare not tread even the slight edges of controversial debate out of fear of upset. It istime to change; let’s bring civility back.

The significance of political civility cannot be further stressed. Political discussion is a partof free speech, typified as one of the backbones of American democracy. How can Americans developtheir own opinions if not given the option to hear out both sides? How can one become educated if

political debates are typically avoided due to their mostly uncomfortable qualities? The answer toleading the greater group of politically uneducated Americans out of the dark is to make it more sociallyacceptable to have diverse opinions.

Making informed decisions for America entails profound discussion and understanding of current issues and those running for office: how can one feel comfortable to use their voice if we live in this polarized community of screaming at the opposition? Our freedom to speak our mind is at stake as the latest behavior threatens to destroy neutral ground and civil political discussion.

Controversial topics do not have to be taboo. The simple solution to talking politics is to just be more polite. From an article by Daniel Alcott for the American Magazine, one can draw out three simple steps on how to debate politics with more civility. Step one is avoiding political discussion on social media altogether. This mitigates polarization. Step two entails engaging in debate for the right reasons. Debate should not occur for emotional reasons. Finally, step three is to embrace the struggle between what may seem to be at competing truths. F. Scott Fitzgerald says that “the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” Our current conversations have gone askew. Let us bring them back by using our ability as humans to have humility. Try it out.

Go forth, have a decent, respectful discussion. Leave room for the opposing voice andperhaps learn something new. We can work together to bring politics back into a calmer socialatmosphere.

Works Cited

1. Alcott, Daniel. “Three steps to a more civil political debate.” America Magazine, n.d., http://content.ebscohost.com/ContentServer.asp?EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeprM4zO X0OLCmr1Cep7NSsau4TbGWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGut1CzrbNNuePfge yx9Yvf5ucA&T=P&P=AN&S=R&D=rgm&K=131461080. Accessed 30 October 2018. 2. Steinmetz, Katy. “Popularity on Social Media? Not cool.” Time, n.d. 2018, http://content.ebscohost.com/ContentServer.asp?EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeprM4zO X0OLCmr1Cep7NSsau4TK%2BWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGut1CzrbNNueP fgeyx9Yvf5ucA&T=P&P=AN&S=R&D=rgm&K=132004249. Accessed 30 October 2018.