By Katherine Burgess
Managing Editor
Nearly everyone with a Facebook account has seen it: Someone posts a political status, someone with a different view comments and in moments an argument ensues, comment after comment.
Even after the presidential election, quarrels abound as conservatives voice their frustration, liberals their joy and both their vehement disagreement with each other.
But Facebook arguments serve no legitimate, constructive purpose, especially as an effective means of either explanation or persuasion.
Unlike a face-to-face conversation, conversations held through Facebook lack tone of voice, facial expressions and other nonverbal signals, all a huge part of communication.
Without these indicators, readers are left guessing, unsure if the writer of a comment is being confrontational, sarcastic, angry, explanatory or even conciliatory.
Without seeing and hearing these nonverbal signals, readers often take statements about a much-debated viewpoint as far more brusque and judgmental than the writer intended.
Had the same statement been made in a face-to-face conversation, the speaker’s tone of voice would have made it clear that he or she was merely expressing an opinion, not meaning to incite an unruly argument.
Sometimes, the people behind strongly worded Facebook posts use the seeming anonymity of social media to be far harsher than they would ever be in person.
Neither situation is conducive to real discussion, where people ought to share and grow in understanding of the views of others.
Instead, these statements only further polarize people’s beliefs as people are driven away from those with whom they disagree.
Furthermore, Facebook arguments fail at persuasion by driving people away from the discussion as a whole.
I have blocked Facebook friends — and I rarely block people on Facebook — due to frustration with political tirades and uncivil arguments that stemmed from those rants.
Some Facebook users go so far as to block friends because they merely disagree with their political views.
Social media also does not work as a venue for political discussion because of the limited space offered. A Facebook status, or the comments that result, can only address an argument in brief and does not have the space to go into a nuanced, thoughtful view of the subject.
Our political views are an important part of who we are, so that will naturally be reflected in what we say through social media.
However, making broad generalizations, complaining about things that cannot be changed, responding harshly to the views of others and engaging in petty, back-and-forth diatribes does no good to anyone.
People do not change their beliefs because of Facebook quarrels and rants. Neither do they gain a broader understanding of an issue or a view.
Instead of quarrelling in terse snippets of text, we ought to find better methods to engage those with whom we disagree.
Perhaps we ought to engage in face-to-face discussion or make thoughtful use of blogs or other written media, where a person has room and time to fully explain a position.
Katherine Burgess is a sophomore journalism major.
