What to do...

So, I belong to this Facebook group that talks a lot of politics.  I used to love checking in and reading what people in the group had to say.

Some of these people are far better educated than myself and it shows.  But, they never made me feel like my opinion and or ideas were any less valuable than theirs.

I can't express how much I liked this. The civility made me feel not only welcome, but safe enough that I could express myself without feeling as though I had no value as a person due to my beliefs and opinions.

Sadly, this has changed rather dramatically with the addition of just a few people to the group. Their "attack anyone who disagrees with them attitude," is off putting to say the least.  They accuse and call their "opponents" names like; ignorant, uneducated, etc, etc etc...You get the drift.

I wasn't surprised to find myself defending people I do not always agree with.  In fact, I have disagreed with these people rather vehemently at times. Still, I think they have the right to say what they will, what they believe and I understand their opinions are based on their own life experiences. As are mine.

It is obvious it times, that I find their posts irritating, and just plain wrong.  But I hope I never attacked them for their thoughts.  I try treat people as I wish to be treated.  Respectfully, and with civility.  Both of which are missing from our national and group discourse these days.

I find myself in a quandary.  Do I stay in the group that I enjoyed so much?  Or do I leave because I object to this handful of people and their "hate filled rhetoric and mob mentality" as they go out of their way to hi-jack this group?

I will miss the people who left us due to the sudden degeneration of civility. 

And now, I must admit, I find it a little surprising how quickly the tone changed once these few people came on board.  And, it makes me sad as well. Mostly because I have been "introduced" to people that have made me think about the state of the world, the country and my life in a totally and not always comfortable way.

I suppose I must make a decision soon.  But, in all truth, I am avoiding doing so. Even though these few people are making many of us miserable, I still like the thoughtful and  thought provoking posts I see from time to time, by the people who are actually coherent.

What to do...what to do...what to do...