Put the cell phone down and listen.

Sometimes when I wake up I want to reach for my phone and connect to the world of social media. I remember a time when that wasn't the case. Used to be the television gave one all the news and gossip. To some degree it still does, but today we're all tied to our phones. We gotta have that "fix."

How can this little device dictate how we behave? They're some benefits but it's not the same as face to face contact. We argue, praise and condemn people without thought to the consequences on social media. We piss people off sometimes. If we were to see them at the local grocery store or in the park, would we get on well?

Much of the information on social media can drive a wedge between us. As a cashier at a local grocery store I get to know and talk to all kinds of people from all walks of life. Politics comes up in about 1% of my conversations. If I really disagree with their point of view, do I treat them worse the next time they come through my line, or do I let it go? It's all about as my dad said, "trying to be right."

That's the rub. That's the question one has to ask themselves and if you come from a place of love, you will make the right decision. If you come from a place of hate, then the world around you becomes more divisive. We used to be able to disagree, but respect each others point of view. I would submit however; that the type of disagreements where reconcilable. Politicians used to compromise to get things done for the greater good. Not all decisions where good ones, but each side evolved, until 2016.

Our world is like a car with an automatic transmission that's stuck in second gear. We're revving our engines trying to get others to notice us and hear our side of the story without listening to theirs. We're so busy bitching (me included) that we stop listening and hearing each other. "My way or the highway!" So we tweet here we tweet there we tweet everywhere. It's like looking for the Scarlet Pimpernel.

The only way to get the transmission fixed is to put it in the shop. Maybe we should stop and turn off our phones more often or close our eyes and pray if we're that sort. We need to stop feeding the flame of sadness, despair, fear and loathing in our neck of the woods. We need to think before we tweet. Its become easier due to social media to  "pile on" than to "back off." Ask yourself if that person where right in front of you, would you say to their face what you're about to tweet?

I'm not preaching apathy just control. It won't happen over night, and if one less person (myself included) refuses to reactive tweet, then slowly but surely we can make progress and fix our broken transmission.

Sile