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Last edited Tue Feb 21, 2012, 09:14 AM - Edit history (1)
Spending a little time on Facebook offers unique opportunities to observe behavior. While it is a "social" media, every once in a while the right wingers just cannot help themselves. Their self-restraint fails them and they post ludicrous political cartoons, pictures, videos, or opinions.
As evidenced by my posting name here, I am from Tennessee. Much to my chagrin, Tennessee is a red state. So, among the hundreds of folks I have on my Facebook friends list there are bound to be quite a few right wingers. I usually take that in stride, but sometimes their posts cross the line of ignorance beyond my boundaries of tolerance. At those times I can either ignore what they say, go off on a rant, or post a little logic. I have chosen the latter.
Back during the holiday season, someone posted a spew about the Obama family vacation in Hawaii. Yes, it was critical of the number of vacations the Obamas have taken. I calmly pointed out that George W. Bush probably holds the record for number of Presidential vacations. I even posted a link of evidence to back up my position. The right wing poster then proceeded to rant that the Obamas should have at least vacationed in this country. Snap! I held my tongue and politely stated that Hawaii is indeed the 50th state and thus a part of the United States. End of that conversation.
The gun lovers have been posting in full force lately that Obama wants to take away their guns and even do away with the Second Amendment. In response to this I posted questions: "Has something happened that I am not aware of? Is there some sort of legislation being proposed?" Answer: "Not yet, but if he wins a second term that is what he plans to do." I then stated that no President would ever attempt to do away with the Second Amendment along with an Obama quote in support of the Second Amendment. I also asked what made the poster believe such a thing. It is being reported says the poster. I asked who is reporting it. The NRA. Snap! I politely suggested that the poster do a little fact checking and posted a link to a fact check article calling the position of the NRA "pants on fire" lies about Obama. Poster then says that it will happen. I then posted that "fact checking is your friend." Poster says the NRA would not lie. Snap! I then post that Obama would be re-elected because neither Romney or Santorum could beat him and that nothing would happen to the Second Amendment. End of that conversation.
Then there was the picture posted of the President and First Lady with their left hands on their chests. I posted that it was photo shopped and gave the Snopes link. Never happened! Snopes is your friend.
Recently, someone posted that Obama was attempting to block Hannity from putting a video on air in which Obama admitted to being a devout Muslim. I clicked on the link and then responded on Facebook with this: "The video is showing CNN in the bottom right corner, so how is it being blocked by anyone? And it is my understanding it has been on You Tube for two years." The poster says this: "Good it needs to be on the Internet. Thanks for the update..would have to ask the network doesn't hurt to educate the American people." Snap! Huh? I then post this: "Logic tells me that if this was aired by CNN long ago and has been on You Tube, no one is attempting to keep it secret and no one is attempting to stop Hannity from showing it. Therefore, your contention is false. Obama is not a Muslim." I did not even attempt to explain that the video had obviously been edited. Wouldn't have done any good. End of that conversation.
In the past few days it has been posted that the media has lavished too much attention on the death of Whitney Houston and forgotten our fallen soldiers. So far I have not responded to that one. It will pass. However, they might need to be reminded that George H. W. Bush in 1991 put a blanket ban in place on photographing the coffins of Americas war dead as their bodies were returned to the United States. Obama lifted that ban in 2009.
Tonight I see this posted: "Can Anybody tell me why we are not drilling for oil here in the U.S.A.?" Sigh. Oh, the ignorance.
pamela
(3,469 posts)I posted the Snopes link and the person removed the picture. I don't have a lot of right-wing Facebook friends but a few of them post crap like that from time to time. If it gets bad, I might "unfriend" them. I have very little patience for that stuff. That's great that you're taking the time to debunk this stuff.
I can't believe I'm about to defend Bush but he wasn't in Crawford on 9/11. He was in Florida in a classroom reading to students.
Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)Thanks for reminding me.
I was thinking of this: Bush was briefed on U.S. intelligence in August, while at his Crawford, Texas, ranch, that bin Laden's network might hijack U.S. passenger planes.
boppers
(16,588 posts)As long as you're not snarky or mean, people will at least stop posting quite the same *level* of erroneous material to their public walls... because you're not just making them look bad, you are making them look bad in front of their friends.
Bigmack
(8,020 posts)... then one particular guy posted the same lie... the 1% bank transaction fee lie - for the third time.
I'm retired, so I don't worry about my job.
I'm old, so I really don't give a shit!
Most of all, I am truly tired of the level of willful ignorance in this country.
So... "Reply All" and Snark are now my close friends.
I use the word LIE liberally. I point out that somebody actually made up the lie. That makes them liars.... but people who pass it on buy into that lie, and are culpable. I point out how it takes less than a minute to fact-check. I use the word gullible a lot, too.
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)I hope you make this a regular installment. Loved it.
Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)Thanks for the suggestion.
It is a little awkward for me to respond to their ignorance due to this being a moderately small town. Word gets around, ya know. And I have to make a living!
MadHound
(34,179 posts)Life is too short to deal with idiots.
Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)Sometimes it helps.
Chipping away at ignorance can have an impact, especially when others see reason and rationality from the other side.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)Thanks.
Jr. was on vacation in Crawford when he got the memo about terrorists attacking with planes. He did nothing.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)ananda
(28,866 posts)... reading My Pet Goat to third graders when 911 went down. Then he was
flown to that strange Cheney bunker in Nebraska... I think.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)It's really too easy, much like blasting dairy cows from 30 feet away with a high-powered rifle.
Demonaut
(8,918 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)I read that analogy somewhere and it stayed in my head as funnier than "fish in a barrel" for describing something that is too simple to be challenging.
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)boppers
(16,588 posts)WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)But thanks for sharing it!
Demonaut
(8,918 posts)being stupid and chuckle at the idiocy
Being a veteran most of my fb vet friends are RW, like religion they follow all the bullshit being fed them
Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)I just present facts and they can live with it.