My Facebook Feed is a War Zone
I’ve always known my social circles were a little…diverse. On one side, I have my paddle community friends—outdoorsy, free-spirited, and mostly left-leaning. On the other, my political friends—patriotic, principled, and very excited about ending wasteful government spending. It makes for an interesting social media experience.
These days, my feed is split down the middle:
- One side is celebrating wins for America—protecting women’s spaces, securing our borders, and making the economy suck less.
- The other side is…having an existential crisis over everything. Trump, Elon Musk, and now the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America? That’s the hill they’re willing to die on?
I get it. Change is hard. But at what point do we stop doom-scrolling and start celebrating the good? And more importantly—how do we talk to our liberal friends without making them cry, block us, or start an essay-long comment war?
Why So Angry? The Psychology of Political Meltdowns
Politics isn’t just about policies anymore—it’s about identity. For a lot of my left-leaning friends, being progressive is part of who they are. So when something happens that challenges their worldview, it’s not just a political disagreement—it’s personal.
The left has also been trained to see everything in apocalyptic terms:
- Trump = Fascism!
- Climate change = The world is ending in 12 years!
- Renaming a body of water = The downfall of civilization!
Meanwhile, conservatives see things differently. We’re over here like, “Hey, maybe let’s not bankrupt the country?” and “Could we keep violent criminals out of our neighborhoods?” The outrage cycle is exhausting. And honestly, it’s kind of sad to see people more emotionally invested in stopping their political opponents than in building something good.
But here’s the deal: Getting mad at them for being mad doesn’t help. If we actually want to reach people, we have to talk to them in a way that makes sense to them.
How to Open Minds Without Losing Your Sanity
Instead of arguing, let’s try these strategies:
1. Shared Values Over Political Labels
Most people—right or left—want the same basic things: safety, fairness, and a livable paycheck. The trick is framing things in ways they already agree with.
- Instead of, “We need strong borders,” try:
“I want my kids to grow up in a safe community. Don’t you?”
- Instead of, “Trump was great for the economy,” try:
“Wouldn’t it be nice if groceries didn’t cost a small fortune?”
2. Personal Stories Over Statistics
People don’t remember numbers—they remember stories.
- Instead of rattling off stats about crime, share a story about a local family affected by illegal immigration.
- Instead of debating women’s sports, ask: “Would you have been okay competing against a guy in high school? No? Me neither.”
3. Ask, Don’t Argue
Liberals love to say they’re “open-minded,” so put that to the test. Instead of coming at them with a hot take, ask questions that make them think:
- Instead of, “Biden’s policies are destroying the economy,” ask:
“Do you feel better off financially than you did four years ago?”
- Instead of, “The border is a disaster,” ask:
“If someone breaks into your house, do you let them stay just because they want a better life?”
4. Lead With Love (Even When It’s Hard)
I know—it’s really tempting to dunk on people who post unhinged rants. But snark rarely changes minds. Instead, try responding with curiosity, humor, and a little grace.
- If someone is spiraling about the Gulf of America name change, instead of rolling your eyes, say:
“It’s funny how we get worked up over stuff like this when we have, you know, actual problems to fix.”
Small shifts in conversation can plant big seeds.
Final Thoughts: Choose Conversations Over Chaos
The goal isn’t to “win” debates—it’s to wake people up. Some won’t listen, and that’s okay. But others just might start to question why they’re so angry all the time.
And at the end of the day, America’s best days aren’t behind us. We just need more people willing to have actual conversations instead of screaming into the void.
Now, who’s ready to turn their next Facebook argument into a productive discussion?
Please share your thoughts and comments below.
Thank you for your time!
-Ashleigh
Great points. Thank you!!