Using social media platforms to vent, discuss, and to post taboo subjects is not a form of living in victimhood; it is a self-proclamation at its finest. It is the march down Main St. in your quaint town with a handful of readers who might care what you have to say. While it is also an escape for keyboard warriors, for many of us, it is how we reflect and hope to change the world.
Do I believe anyone is going to change their mind from one Facebook post? No. I absolutely do not believe so. But for all of us with open minds and hearts, I trust that if we continue to talk about hard topics somewhere, someone is benefiting from the knowledge and emotions we cautiously share. For all the oversharing I have been accused of, there is a message waiting for me in my inbox thanking me for sharing my relatable story.
Hard conversations need to happen. I believe sitting in silence shows your privilege and lack of concern for humanity. However, it is worth noting that we can’t all be passionate about the same topics. What is the worst day of my life can look like a walk in the park for another. Your worst day is still just that. The gravitational pull to make changes that have personally affected your life exists within all of us. While I know many people are exhausted with the number of “agenda” related information on social media, it is important we do not remain silent.
I was once told that because I shared my childhood story, I was still a victim. However, the victim remains silent. A victim crawls through their shame and often hurts and sabotages those relationships and people around them. A survivor engages, educates, listens to others’ perspectives, and shares a message of hope rather than disdain. It may not be the method in which you would try to change the world, but sharing your personal story is what’s going to do it.
I do not live in a bubble of any sort. I am aware that the haters will hate, and the people on the other side of the table may not want to hear what I have to say. But don’t you dare tell me I am doing nothing because all I do is share a post on social media. It’s important to acknowledge how far we have come from needing to march down Main St. to have our voices heard to conveniently sitting behind a computer telling the world our every thought.
Don’t get me wrong, the platforms are overused. Some stories should remain private. But who am I to judge? We all can keep on scrolling. I am at a loss as to why so many are unable to do so. Is it because you believe the opposite? Do you feel your silence on the matter is a sign of strength? Are you being challenged in view by someone whom you love and cherish but simply do not agree with? All of these are justified reasons to wish the person would stop posting, stop talking, and just deal with their wounds in other ways. However, you, too, have the same platforms. It takes great courage to speak your mind. I just wish we could learn to be a bit more kind in doing so. I don’t wish to silence opposing views; I wish for a world where those views could coexist without death threats and demeaning one another.
I am far from perfect at sharing my opinions with 100% kindness. I, too, get caught up in the emotional spirals that sound as if I have never looked in the mirror.
I miss the days we could all agree to disagree. Those days are left behind when disagreements are filled with hateful words toward one another. Insults are only fitting if you find them to be true. Let it go. If it bothers you, keep scrolling. But don’t take someone’s ability to air their dirty laundry as a sign of being a victim. Absolutely, don’t think you know someone’s life from a few social posts. Moreover, don’t assume you know what their fight looks like beyond social media. Ask questions, yes. Assume, absolutely not!
This was written by our contributing writer, Tiffani Morgan.
Image Source: Unsplash, Look Studio
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