Facebook adventures with the ignorant ...... [View all]

[Tennessee Gal]

Last edited Tue Feb 21, 2012, 09:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Spending a little time on Facebook offers unique opportunities to observe behavior. While it is a "social" media, every once in a while the right wingers just cannot help themselves. Their self-restraint fails them and they post ludicrous political cartoons, pictures, videos, or opinions.

As evidenced by my posting name here, I am from Tennessee. Much to my chagrin, Tennessee is a red state. So, among the hundreds of folks I have on my Facebook friends list there are bound to be quite a few right wingers. I usually take that in stride, but sometimes their posts cross the line of ignorance beyond my boundaries of tolerance. At those times I can either ignore what they say, go off on a rant, or post a little logic. I have chosen the latter.

Back during the holiday season, someone posted a spew about the Obama family vacation in Hawaii. Yes, it was critical of the number of vacations the Obamas have taken. I calmly pointed out that George W. Bush probably holds the record for number of Presidential vacations. I even posted a link of evidence to back up my position. The right wing poster then proceeded to rant that the Obamas should have at least vacationed in this country. Snap! I held my tongue and politely stated that Hawaii is indeed the 50th state and thus a part of the United States. End of that conversation.

The gun lovers have been posting in full force lately that Obama wants to take away their guns and even do away with the Second Amendment. In response to this I posted questions: "Has something happened that I am not aware of? Is there some sort of legislation being proposed?" Answer: "Not yet, but if he wins a second term that is what he plans to do." I then stated that no President would ever attempt to do away with the Second Amendment along with an Obama quote in support of the Second Amendment. I also asked what made the poster believe such a thing. It is being reported says the poster. I asked who is reporting it. The NRA. Snap! I politely suggested that the poster do a little fact checking and posted a link to a fact check article calling the position of the NRA "pants on fire" lies about Obama. Poster then says that it will happen. I then posted that "fact checking is your friend." Poster says the NRA would not lie. Snap! I then post that Obama would be re-elected because neither Romney or Santorum could beat him and that nothing would happen to the Second Amendment. End of that conversation.

Then there was the picture posted of the President and First Lady with their left hands on their chests. I posted that it was photo shopped and gave the Snopes link. Never happened! Snopes is your friend.

Recently, someone posted that Obama was attempting to block Hannity from putting a video on air in which Obama admitted to being a devout Muslim. I clicked on the link and then responded on Facebook with this: "The video is showing CNN in the bottom right corner, so how is it being blocked by anyone? And it is my understanding it has been on You Tube for two years." The poster says this: "Good it needs to be on the Internet. Thanks for the update..would have to ask the network doesn't hurt to educate the American people." Snap! Huh? I then post this: "Logic tells me that if this was aired by CNN long ago and has been on You Tube, no one is attempting to keep it secret and no one is attempting to stop Hannity from showing it. Therefore, your contention is false. Obama is not a Muslim." I did not even attempt to explain that the video had obviously been edited. Wouldn't have done any good. End of that conversation.

In the past few days it has been posted that the media has lavished too much attention on the death of Whitney Houston and forgotten our fallen soldiers. So far I have not responded to that one. It will pass. However, they might need to be reminded that George H. W. Bush in 1991 put a blanket ban in place on photographing the coffins of America’s war dead as their bodies were returned to the United States. Obama lifted that ban in 2009.

Tonight I see this posted: "Can Anybody tell me why we are not drilling for oil here in the U.S.A.?" Sigh. Oh, the ignorance.