#politicophobia

1) Before you share that clever political meme, FACT CHECK THAT. Snopes.com is really helpful for this. Seriously, don't make me be your annoying fact check friend.

2) If anybody is called an ugly name anywhere on the post you feel the need to share (ie: libtard), just DON’T. Period. Why would you even do that?

3) If you read a news story that makes your blood boil and you just HAVE to share it and tell everyone the TRUTH... for the love of guacamole STAHP. Take a deep breath. Pet a dog. Drop by AllSides.com and maybe read some different takes on the same subject. (this is my absolute fave news source because it is all the sources!) Sharing your thoughts and opinions is totally cool, but all the drama makes some of us tired and it probably isn’t gonna change your friends' minds anyway. (Sorry.)

4) If one of your friends is upset on the Internet and you feel compelled to correct them on something, um.... maybe don't? (This is especially true if your friend is a different gender, race, religion, etc. from you.) Listen. Practice empathy. Bear witness to their pain. That's the only way this gets better. And if you want to engage an actual conversation, that’s what PMs are for.

5) Inscribe this wisdom from Anne Lamott on your heart and brain: “Everybody thinks their opinion is the right one. If they didn't, they would get a new one.” That goes for me and you and the whole Internet.

6) It's okay to unfollow, mute, or block the really wackadoo stuff. Like, don't put yourself in an echo chamber where everyone agrees with you. But y’all, I have blocked whole websites from my Facebook feed and it has made my online life better.

I'm counting on you Internet. Make good decisions!

Love,

Your Friendly Neighborhood 9w1*

* Yes, I just enneagram’d. #sorrynotsorry