Here is a Facebook button I would like to see: No, I Do NOT Like It (and here’s why) …
The ease with which we can and do Like this or that is troubling. When I was partaking of Facebook, I found myself wanting desperately to click an icon that said, “No, I do not particularly like whatever you’re saying and here is why.”
Ann Coulter
For example, the other day someone posted on their site a scornful bit about Ann Coulter and how she had once refused to fly on an airline after seeing a black woman pilot in the cockpit. The story was untrue, as it turned out, and this person later took it down. I recall commenting on the post (which comment is also now gone, along with the post) that, to the best of my knowledge, the entire story was untrue and very hurtful to Ann’s reputation. But I recall wanting to hard-click a “No, I Do NOT Like It (and here’s why)” button.
Candidly, even if it were true, could there have been extenuating circumstances at play? What else might have been happening at the time such that an otherwise respectful, well-educated, person would choose to not fly, thereby inconveniencing herself in the process.
Perhaps – just perhaps – the woman was a former lover and the idea of being on the same airplane was somehow disquieting. Maybe, they had just had a contretemps in the terminal and Ann was embarrassed to fly with her.
Maybe Ann had gone to school with said pilot and knew her to be an incompetent student, an alcoholic, and a liar; all facts that might cast doubt upon the woman’s abilities as a pilot. We can come up with ideas. Many ideas.
Herein lies the danger of Facebook: the ability to click Like without much aforethought. The ability to say Yes, Like, and so forth so quickly is disturbing and the height of superficiality. It is what leads to bandwagon effects, with everyone jumping on without giving the issues any thought. It is what gives demagogues their power.
Say “No, then Yes,” and only after considerable reflection and fact-checking.
