I've been called a socialist, a communist, a follower of Saul Alinsky. I have debated my Facebook friends and my FB friends' friends, and even a few of my wife's FB buddies. I have been called nasty names and some even (gulp), defriended me. But throughout this election I have engaged any and all who attempted to mislead with rumors, lies or distortions about this presidential election.
My wife thinks I'm crazy. "Why bother, you won't change their minds." She's right. She usually is. If they're talking birther Kenya conspiracies or posting hateful nonsense about the president like "Nazi", "socialist", "scumbag", "dictator", "oppressor", "muslim" etc., I'm probably not going to enlighten them. My rational is this, I'm not writing to convince that person. But if a reasonable, open minded person who's also one of that person's "friends" reads my posts, maybe they'll learn something. Maybe I'll convince them. I'm writing for them.
I was happy to learn from elizabethawilke that my efforts haven't been fruitless. She pointed out that a Pew internet survey,
of 2,253 U.S. adults found that nearly half of Democrats who use social networking sites say those sites are important to them in keeping up with political news. About one in three Republican social-network users say the same.
Here’s the shocker: A few people even report changing their minds about an issue based on their friends’ political posts. They’re in the minority, to be sure: just 16 percent overall.
In a close election I'll take 16%. GOTV efforts would welcome any swing of that many voters.
There was even more good news.
36% of social networking site (SNS) users say the sites are “very important” or “somewhat important” to them in keeping up with political news.
26% of SNS users say the sites are “very important” or “somewhat important” to them in recruiting people to get involved in political issues that matter to them.
25% of SNS users say the sites are “very important” or “somewhat important” to them for debating or discussing political issues with others.
25% of SNS users say the sites are “very important” or “somewhat important” to them in finding other people who share their views about important political issues.
Engaging a Teapartier can be very frustrating but could result in inspiring another as
39 percent of liberals say that political posts have motivated them to get more involved in an issue.
It started small. I tried to correct many of the errors I was reading about the Affordable Care Act. Then I was trying to show the truth about
Republican obstruction and how it started on day one. I tried to get out the truth on
unemployment.
I've tried to show where the budget goes and how it won't really end the deficit Obama inherited from Bush if you fire Big Bird.
I've tried to show that some Republicans don't see a conspiracy when it comes to Benghazi.
That getting all your current event information from Fox "News" may not be great for your IQ. In fact you're better off watching the Daily Show! And even better if you get your news from NPR.
I've demonstrated that about 70% of what comes out of Mitt Romney's mouth is, at best, a "half truth" and, on occasion he'll debate himself. And if you go to PolitiFact you can find about 10 pages of Obama's promises kept. In fact there are pages, and pages, and pages letting you know what he accomplished.
I never name call. I use sources for all my posts (even if they feel that "The media is COMPLICIT in keeping Americans in the dark to protect Obama!"). Because, again, I write to convince those who agree with Daniel Patrick Moynihan that you are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.
So after Tuesday, and at least for awhile, my Facebook battles will be over. I can go back to posting photos of my beautiful grandchildren and giving updates on the high school team I coach. It will be a relief. But in a way, I'll miss it a little.
Sun Nov 04, 2012 at 10:23 AM PT: UPDATE: Thanks to those who took the time to share your FB battles with me here, through email or on Facebook. I saw this on FB and it pretty much sums it up: "I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it."