I don’t talk about certain subjects on the internet. I was raised in an age where politics and religion, especially. were meant to be private discussions at home. Even at home, they can be touchy subjects. This old school mindset is something that I believe in fully and tend to practice on the internet. I believe we are all allowed to have our opinions and beliefs. I also believe that we can only see certain scenarios based on our own experiences.

As I scroll through social media, mainly Facebook, I tend to see a lot of firestorms. These firestorms, I believe, are created by knee jerk emotional responses. I’ve seen people use all caps to defend their beliefs and tell someone they should just die. I’ve seen people tell others in all caps (which means yelling, btw) that they’re dumb, less than or not worthy of life just because that particular person doesn’t view the situation or topic in the same way. 

This is sad. People, come on! Where has the “it takes a village” and the “we’re all in this together” mindset gone?

The way adults act on social media has me shaking my head. You see, kids are seeing you behave like this. Your kids and other people’s kids look to the adults in their circle as a first example of how to behave in public, and online. I sit back and shudder at some of these firestorm responses people give. 

I get it, we all have emotions. There are subjects totally sensitive to us that we are passionate about, but do you really need to be downright mean, and on top of it all, threatening?! What does that solve? Nothing. It just causes more hate and depression!

Listen, I’m not a perfect person. I am not an example to live by. I am just trying to be a kind human and have respect for others. Even my tween and teenager knows that I’m not perfect, but I’ve taught them how to speak up for what they believe in and debate the topic in a healthy manner! I don’t care if we agree on a subject. I don’t care if you’re on one side of the topic or the other side, down the middle or right in alignment with me. I’ll admit, it’s easier to discuss a topic if we’re on the same page, as it seems healthy debates are no longer a thing, but I’ll still chat with you in a respectful manner about your beliefs on a subject. I respect your opinion. 

 Chill Skills In a Jar®: Anger Management Tips for Teens

 

With media being biased, all of it is, don’t argue on that one, and social media hiding certain things due to whichever side of the topic they lean, it’s no wonder more adults have started to be misled and I sit back to watch people stop thinking for themselves. In turn, this breeds high emotional responses that border, and often run into, harassment as well as lines of criminal threatening! 

Please, stop! Please, slow down your inner firestorm. Please work hard to be more graceful, more humble, and more stable with your replies to people. Need help? I’m going to share some tips to help you diffuse your inner firestorm, so you can pause before commenting online.

How to Diffuse Your Inner Firestorms

You do not have a right to live more than I do. We all have a right to live and while we also have a right to be jerks, I personally feel all that does is lead you down a path of health problems and negativity, as well as depression. I’m entitled to that opinion, but you may want to do some research, as studies have shown that negative, aggressive behavior will send you down a bad health path, both physically and mentally! 

 The Cow in the Parking Lot: A Zen Approach to Overcoming Anger

 

Don’t Take the Bait

Think of social media comments as fishing. Someone leaves a comment or posts an update and you want to dive right in. You immediately feel angry, sad, or some negative emotion and you want to have this knee jerk emotional response to them. Don’t take the bait. Scroll by that update. Pause to read it a few times. Do anything to breathe for a second and collect your thoughts. This will allow you to comment in a way that allows you to sound educated, and respectful.

Pause the Defensive

These knee jerk emotional responses to people on the internet come from a state of emotions. These emotions are strong, and they can often result in one saying something really bad. You’ll want to take a moment to pause your defensive, survival side so that your logical side can discuss this with your emotions. Once you’ve paused the defensive and allowed yourself time to consider all angles, and other people’s experiences, maybe then you can comment from a place of mutual respect or curiosity as to why that person thinks that way. 

We’re All Doing Our Best

Just because someone else wants to post profanity or negativity on the internet as a means to put down a specific group of people or beliefs, doesn’t mean you have to partake in that conversation. Even if you believe in what they are saying, you don’t have to express every little opinion out there on the World Wide Web. Remember that the people who really care about you the most are right underneath that roof you call home. While you may have some amazing online connections, I know I do, there are still those on the internet who could care less if you’re homeless, starving or struggling.

We are selfish humans in some ways, but we are also all on the same journey to be our best and do our best. So please, take a second to diffuse your inner firestorm and not play with the fire. Be the voice of reason, healthy debate, and kindness in a world where kindness and common sense seem to have disappeared. 

In Conclusion …

There’s nothing wrong with asking a few questions to try to understand another person’s view of a specific topic. We are all just little humans down here on Earth, we have no clue what the big dudes are doing up in the government or in the higher levels of the world. Sure, it may be full of corruption, that’s blatantly obvious to us all, but we the people are down here together. We the people are living through various hardships and it’s important that we the people start diffusing our inner firestorms so that we the people can rise up again together to truly change the world for the better!