We’re living in a land of make believe…
— from ‘Seventh Sojourn’, by the Moody Blues
I’m currently professionally involved in a legal matter involving “partisan political activists”. My comments here are limited to what I’ve observed about “partisans” — and social media.
The partisans’ words and deeds that show up on social media, seem to stem from some psycho-social pathology. They appear to be fixated with political partisanship to the extent it permeates their lives.
The political persuasion of whomever they interact with seems to subvert all else. For example, I was told by one, in a dialogue that had nothing to with politics, “I know your politics, I’ve read what you’ve posted on social media. ” By the intonation, and demeanor, it was clearly intended as an insult.
It intrigued me for several reasons.
First, I’ve never posted anything on any social media. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Never have, never will! Some videos of me in court can be found on Youtube, but I didn’t post them.
To me, social media is the ultimate in narcissism. I don’t delude myself that anyone other than Mrs Beatty, let alone the whole world, gives a rat’s ass what I’m up to every day. As I heard a wise man say, “Neil Armstrong went to the moon and took six personal photos. People on social media take that many of themselves standing in front of their bathroom mirror every day.”
Second, I’m happy (as any writer is) when someone reads my mental meanderings, especially if it impacts them enough to comment. I’ve been told about (and shown) social media comments about my writings (positive and negative). But since I have no clue how to even access any such platforms, I never know about them otherwise.
Third, I challenge anyone to read my collective writings (or talk to me) and then try to pidgeon-hole my “politics” — other than that I’m firmly in the camp of the perpetually bemused.
Fourth, and more pertinent to this column, the person who said that to me was clearly self-satisfied to have relegated me to a slot in her political pantheon to avoid even listening to, let alone thinking about, anything I say. I’m evil because of my “politics”, and so (in her words) anything I ever say — in fact my very existence — “insults” her. That’s what I mean by pathological.
These ‘partisans’ are all about pettiness, and personal insults, reminiscent of a kindergarten playground — magnified in the social media land of make believe where “all politics is personal”. Donning self-woven mantles of moral superiority, they justify (to themselves) whatever they say — or do — to their political “enemies” who are unworthy of respect.
That environment is what I refuse to be part of. This case I’m involved in is the first time I’ve seen it up close to any extent — and it’s living down to my expectations.
Social media is overpopulated with people who confuse having the right to express an opinion with the fact those opinions are immature, based on inexperience or ignorance. Overlay that with whatever mental disorder a poster suffers from; together with a media-fueled breakdown of our populace into what is approaching armed camps, and the future of our society looks grim.
Yes it’s true that the Daily Post, and the other outlets that have published my writings, afford me a soapbox to bloviate. Why then, I’ve been asked, shouldn’t everyone have the same opportunity to do so on social media? I would never begrudge anyone the right to publicly make a fool of themselves on social media that I’ll never see.
Before my opinions are published by news platforms they are filtered through editors. I must stay within certain guidelines that specifically prohibit personal attacks, and childish name-calling.
That sort of rot not only proliferates on social media, it’s the modus operandi of too many of the denizens of that sandbox.
I use sandbox in this context not only to denote where children play, but also what my cat uses — since both uses reflect a lot of social media.
Gary Beatty lives between Florida and Pagosa Springs. He retired after 30 years as a prosecutor for the State of Florida, has a doctorate in law, is Board Certified in Criminal Trial law by the Florida Supreme Court, and is now a law professor.