I will be 28 years old in six months. For those that aren't real good at basic math, that means I am almost 30 years of age. To most people (myself included) 30 is a milestone. An age where you hope that you have your shit together, and your life is progressing in some semblance of the direction you want it to. As a person who is 30 (or almost 30), one would think their peers would be hip to the goings on in the world, and maybe even have an mildly educated opinion on them. At least an opinion based on facts.
I suppose it's one of the major drawbacks of social media. The fact that everyone has a platform to express their ideas and theories on things (much like this one, just as worthless as any other). And in no way am I trying to discourage people from putting forth their thoughts and feelings, but when it comes to matters of fact, have your shit together before you spew nonsense for the world to read. I'm not talking about 18 year old kids who don't know any better. I'm talking to the dumb as rocks adults that post OBVIOUSLY fake "news" stories from partisan political websites (both sides of the aisle). Or people that regurgitate something they heard their dad say about politics, but can't defend their stance. These are ADULTS that put these things out there.
I'm not that smart. Shit, I didn't even go to real college for more than a semester, but I know one thing for sure: If you're not sure something is legit, don't attach your name to it. So what if your dad let you have a sip of his Bud Light when you were 11? He may not know what the fuck he's talking about. Same goes for many news outlets, don't take things at face value. In a world where it takes 30 seconds of Google research to prove or disprove something, it's amazing how many people just agree with a story or opinion that fits their narrative. JUST LOOK IT UP! It's not hard! Maybe I am an optimist, but I would like to think most people I know are intelligent enough to spot fake news. But if you're not sure, and are too lazy to go to Snopes and look it up, don't post it!
When it comes to matters of opinion based on false facts, that's where I get really steamed. I would never tell anyone how to think, but what I would tell people is to keep an open mind. Don't be stubborn. If someone presents you with information that could potentially sway your opinion, listen to it. You can't ignore something just because it's not what you agree with, that's childish. Listen. Argue with the person, but don't dismiss the information. And for the record, an argument does not consist of one side repeating the same thing over and over again until the other side gives up. The other side gave up because they realize you're dumb. There is however one surefire way to keep yourself from looking stupid, one that I try to use as often as I can: IF YOU DON'T KNOW SOMETHING, SHUT UP ABOUT IT. Ask questions, sure, but coming into a hot button issue half cocked is a sure way to make yourself look like a dummy.
This whole thing is just a rant about something that's been bothering me for a while. If you're an adult, think about what you post and attach to yourself before you do it. Believe it or not, the slew of dick and fart jokes that make up my Facebook statuses are carefully thought out and researched. I really hope people I'm friends with keep presenting interesting news stories, and expressing their opinions. But for god's sake people, have your shit together before you come at me with some sideways logic. Happy New Year, gang. I'm gonna go watch COPS.
