I avoid political drama like the plague because I hate arguing and I hate negativity. I also hate politics because for some reason it brings out the ugly in people. I know that I am a very smart girl, but when it comes to knowing whats best for the United States, I am not going to sit here and act like I do. I have not educated myself enough to back up my own political ideas and opinions and even if I do try to become more knowledgeable about what is going on in the presidential race, I wouldn't even know where to start. Lately the political discussions I have witnessed have been frustrating, overwhelming, and super intimidating to me, so please just keep me out of it.
First of all, I don't read about politics or watch it on TV all that much because I feel the less I know the better. Ignorance is bliss...remember? I don't want to get so involved in politics that I become so emotionally consumed to the point where everything offends me.
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From what I can see, this race has been all about the money and the media. Mass media basically shows you what they want you to see by using their headlines as "clicker-bait". This is a tactic used to engage the audience and gain a larger amount of viewership. This year's presidential candidates do a tremendous job of getting media attention. However, sometimes the media can report and explain situations out of context as well as portray their behavior in an undesirable manner. Because I am a journalist, I understand what has to be done in order to receive more views and shares, it is ethical but it isn't completely unbiased. Which is why I don't truly trust what I see in the media because content can be construed.
Basically all platforms of mass media have tainted my opinion and its my generation's fault...millennials are ignorant. I only say this because every time I log onto Facebook or Twitter, I see poorly written statuses, tweets, articles, blog posts, and YouTube video shares about someone's lovely (one-sided) opinion. It annoys me when people my age who are not educated or experienced enough to run a country go off on these rants and tell everyone how they think the United States government should be run. Yes, yes, yes I understand it is your God given right to have a voice, but just remember to use it wisely and here's why...If someone decides to be a smart-ass and write a novel status about politics, then Lord help them.
I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into if you decide to reason with the public as to why your beliefs and opinions are better than theirs. If you don't have the expertise or the knowledge that these politicians have and practice then I think you should just sit down and shut up...no one is really going to take your ideas seriously. So quit criticizing the experts so harshly.
I think millennials are ignorant because when it comes to politics I don't really think my generation is all that experienced with it quite yet. Some of us have only voted once...maybe twice...some haven't even gotten the chance to vote for a president yet. Not to mention we haven't really been adults for all that long either. I mean come on, look at your parents, they've witnessed almost triple the amount of presidential elections than you have and they have seen first hand what works for our country and what doesn't. So, if your only experience and educational background with politics is your high school government class, then I suggest you either take yourself to the library and learn more on how our government system works or just keep doing whatever your doing and become a victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect.
The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which relatively unskilled persons suffer illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability to be much higher than it really is. Meaning that ignorant and incompetent people are usually the ones who believe they know everything, when in reality they don't realize their incompetence and inability. It's a nice way of saying someones a "confident idiot".
So every time you post a status on Facebook that justifies why you think Donald Trump is the next Hitler, or why you do or do not want free college, I advise you sit down and think about how truly educated you are and if you are experienced and credible enough to be saying these things to the public. The Dunning-Kruger effect is the finding that the poorest performers are the least aware of their own incompetence. So next time you're on Facebook and see an argument occurring in someone's comments, don't even bother getting involved. Just let them be the ones who look bad. Besides as Socrates once said:
“The only true wisdom is to know that you know nothing.”
Once again, I am not saying that you shouldn't exercise your freedom of speech, but I am saying that you should be careful about what you say and have the evidence to back your claims. You have to be willing to take the risk of looking like a fool, because there are people out there who think they know better than you or actually do know better than you they will most likely tear you to shreds. For instance, if I go around defending my beliefs and such, I am putting myself at risk for some serious vilification.
Just because I support "so and so" doesn't mean that I am not open to other sides. I may agree with a certain someone's beliefs and tactics, but that doesn't mean I am a better or worse person than you. I am tired of seeing people getting scrutinized and harassed for supporting their favorite candidate. If someone wants to share their ideas with me, I'll listen to them, but I probably won't share my own. I believe that there is no need to be so one-sided and closed-minded about politics. Have a civil conversation if you please, but I don't think verbal attacks and heated arguments have to start because of a presidential candidate you have absolutely no control over.
In all honesty, unless we vote, its out of our hands. How about instead of posting your rants all over social media you open a book or do your homework. I cannot emphasize how important it is to vote. Vote for the candidate who you think best represents your beliefs and values. VOTE! There are so many people who have sacrificed so much for our great country, and we owe it to each other and the future of this great nation to participate in our own democracy.
I am not going to say I don't care about who becomes our next president because I totally do. But I don't think your opinion or mine is worth fighting over. So I just hope that whoever is elected as our new Commander in Chief abides by the constitution and the coequal branches of government, and of course keeps us safe. As long as we have a president who believes in our country's greatness we will be fine. I still believe the United States is the best country in the world, so I feel that there is no reason to move to Canada. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy your freedom as a blessed American citizen.
GOD BLESS THE U.S.A!!!
