Shut Up

 The title of this reflects upon no one but myself.  If anyone reads this perhaps you have heard the saying "Opinions are like assholes.  Everyone has them." and I am not sure if there is a follow up statement but if there is perhaps in similar to: "And they are all full of shit."  I write that about mine as much as anyone's.  since I retired I have posted on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram about 'My Views' in response to someone else's posting - with which I obviously disagreed.  Not surprisingly it has had no effect upon the populous at large.  

I am not sure if others would agree but I do feel I keep an open mind when confronted with opposing positions that site facts.  I myself try hard to research topics to form my opinions and I try - truly I do try - to review a number of sources from staunch liberal to hard conservative to discern fact from opinion. I hope that is as true as I believe it.

And therein lies my problem.  There are people who I thought were my friends whose views are so different from mine that I have had to block them & their hateful remarks on Social Media, and thus have lost contact with them. It saddens me. My circle of people with whom I communicate is getting smaller.  I have even told myself to Shut Up and keep my opinions to myself - not always successfully.  The thing for me is I like those discussions but almost always they are met with vitriol even direct hate filled remarks.  I did it once and afterwards apologized to the person - not for my position - but for the sarcasm and name calling I ended up using.  what have we come to where we can no longer disagree and discuss and to keep relationships we resort to chit chat dialog.  It saddens me.

So I have decided to Shut Up. Really.  And only offer my views when specifically asked. That does not mean I will not block someone for their hate or bigotry.  It doesn't mean I won't leave a room or if in my home ask them to leave should they spew hate or bigotry.  It does mean I am no longer compelled to be a verbal vigilante on my opinion.  As I said before - try as I might unless it is based in facts it is just more shit tossed out there.