I'll Admit It. I Was Wrong.

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > When I first joined FACEBOOK in 2011, I knew that I was a bit late to the party, but I was writing a memoir and launched a website (www.agathanolen.com) and wanted to be able to share my stories and photographs with everyone who was interested in dialoguing about our relationship with God and the relationships that flow from that first love. I friended friends, friends of friends, and even remote acquaintances with the idea that using the internet to span enormous spaces was healthy and would promote new ideas and relationships. Over the 15 years, I now have 6700 followers on Facebook, although I admit I don’t know all of them personally. In 2010, I helped on the U.S. Congressional campaign of a good friend in Tennessee. He is a Republican, but I’ve voted a split ticket for decades. I didn’t support him because of, or in spite of his political party, but I found him to be honest, trustworthy, and a gentleman who embodied living out his Christian faith with actions. I supported the man, independent of the party, and believed that we needed more like him in Congress. Well, we lost, but through it I met very interesting people throughout the political spectrum, and of course, asked them all to be Facebook friends.As the rhetoric has changed in the past 15 years, I’ve found it difficult to read many of the posts of my “friends”. It hasn’t been their political ideology that has been troublesome, but the name-calling. I wasn’t raised that way, and my closest in-person friends would never stoop to denigrate a person with words. I do believe that all people bear God’s image and it’s hard for me to imagine anyone wanting to tear another person down.As Facebook seemed to swing more political, I asked myself what I wanted to post on my page. I felt like I had expertise in a few areas: pharmacy and pharmaceutical products, U.S. health policy and most recently, issues on theology. So, I felt like I could appropriately chime in on these subjects as someone who really knows what they are talking about. In addition, I have opinions about a lot of things that I don’t have expertise in. I try to clearly label those posts as to what I BELIEVE. I’m not trying to convince anyone that they are wrong and I am right. It is my page and it is what I BELIEVE. However, I admit now that I was wrong. Being a positive influence on the internet has little virtue. As I read through the insults, AI-generated fake news, and “cute” memes I have become disheartened. I will continue to post as before with my same rules, but for the first time in 15 years I am unfriending people. I have decided that if you post and call people “Commies” because of their political party, reference ex-President’s sex lives in every post, call a sitting President a pedophile, denigrate someone because of their disability, race, or gender, I cannot be your “friend”. This would be easier if they are people I’ve never met, but some are those I was in third grade with, worked with, went to church with, or even shared a cocktail or two. I was interested in staying in touch because of those fond memories, but people change. I’ve been asked by other friends why I let “trolls” comment on my posts. It was a somber question that I contemplated for quite a while. And then I decided. Maybe we were friends once, but no longer. I won’t let you “troll” my page any longer if you are name-calling. It is always sad when a “friendship” dies. But it does happen, and I need to move on.Blessings, my true friends,Agatha I Admit It. I Was Wrong! Agatha Nolen Download