The "Facebook War Of Words": 10 Things You Can Do To Avoid From Getting Into One

     In December of this year, I will be on Facebook for 10 years now.  Yes, I know, Facebook is a love hate/thing in most everybody's lives these days.

     Let's admit it, Facebook is an addiction.  It has become a part of our daily lives.  When we wake up in the morning and drink our coffee, we are looking at it.  When we take our lunch break, we are looking at it.  And when we get off work, we are looking at it.  And when we are off work on the weekends, we are looking at it.  This is how we keep up with our current friends, former classmates, acquaintances in the community and our friends from the past that we no longer see.  And course, there are the family members too.  And most of us are even getting the latest news and what's happening in the world too from Facebook.

   But nowadays, because the world has become so divided on issues in politics, religion and lifestyles that a lot people have grown to argue on Facebook and have become very good at it.  I have to admit that I have fallen for it a couple of times through the years especially during the 2016 Presidential Election and regarding a recent incident at my Alma Mater at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).  Yes, I got into a "Facebook War of Words" argument. 

    It's been proven by scientists, psychiatrists and psychologists because our brains are wired genetically that goes back in our ancestry to the mainstream instinct of a survival mode.  It is known as one of the basic operations or primal instincts of our minds.  We are always on constant alert for danger in our lives and these are the two main mechanism in our brain that us navigate in this area of our lives.  It's called the "flight or fight" mode.

 

With Facebook, while sitting behind a desktop computer or iPhone in the comfort of our own home or car, we can easily jump into a "Facebook War of Words" without feeling physically threatened or being physically attacked by not having the "flight" mode of our brains kick in.  Only the "fight" mode of our brains are in the works to where we just dig a hole deeper and deeper and it snowballs to a point that you start to feel sick and nauseated from the arguing with total strangers on Facebook. Usually, I end up being personally attacked with words, called names and labelled something by total strangers that I never even met before.  And vice versa. I'm guilty of it too. So, I hope to never to get involved into another war of words on Facebook again.  It's senseless and stupid! Just stop it!  You're not doing yourself or anyone else any favors by it and you are just wasting your time and energy.  Use Facebook to keep up with friends and family. Just try to keep your time spent on Facebook light and if possible.  It's a social network, remember? With that being said, here's 10 things can do to avoid jumping into a "Facebook War of Words." Good luck my friends!

1.)  Just scroll past controversial subjects on your newsfeed and don't post a comment.  Or just ignore it completely by not even reading the post.

2.) If the controversial subjects persists, "unfollow" the poster.  Or you can at least "Hide" the poster for 30 days.

3.)  If the poster, keeps on posting these controversial subjects, just completely "block" him or her.

4.) If someone attacks you for posting a comment on a subject, you can "unfollow" them.

5.) If someone attacks keeps attacking you even after you "unfollow" them or if it's a total stranger from out of the blue, then just "block" them.

6.) Post lots of pictures of trips and vacations.  Everybody likes looking at those!

7.) Post lots pictures and videos of puppies and doggies (Everybody loves puppies and doggies these days too!)

8.) Take off the news outlets or sources on your Facebook page so that you won't be tempted to post a controversial subject.  However, you will still get the local and national news because your friends will still post these things.

9.) Post funny videos. (Everybody loves a good laugh!)

10.)  Just observe and don't comment.  If you're gut instinct, tells you that f you post something negative or controversial it will start a Facebook War of Words, then just don't do it.  Save yourself a lot of time and energy but not being negative.  Try to be positive at all times while on Facebook.  Let it been something of value in your life rather than being a detriment in your life.

Dishonest Small Town Preacher Gives Religion A Bad Name

In my opinion, when you read stories like this in your local newspaper, it can really turn you off towards religion.  Especially, the those who are indifferent towards religion or for those who choose not go to church to worship God.  Or how about the atheists?  Things like this just give the atheists more fodder to point out on how corrupt religion can be for your mind according to them.  There's nothing worse than a small town dishonest preacher where he takes advantage of their congregation and of the elderly members who are barely surviving on their social security checks.  They trusted this guy who was there pastor, treasurer and secretary of the church.  Wow, that's a lot trust! And the church didn't have a bank account!  What's up with that?
I hope an Allen County, Ky., court, especially the judge, county attorney or a jury throws the book at this guy in order to make an example out of him.  Just maybe, it might deter other small town dishonest preachers to come clean and to become honest so that they will not continue to give religion a bad name in this state or country.

Longtime pastor faces theft charge
Minix accused of taking $300,000 from congregation in Allen County
DEBORAH HIGHLAND, The Daily News, dhighland@bgdailynews.com/783-3243

Published: November 10, 2011
A Scottsville pastor is accused of embezzling $300,000 from New Gospel Outreach Church.

Billy Owen Minix, 42, 59 Cherokee Drive in Scottsville, was charged Tuesday with theft by unlawful taking over $10,000, according to Allen Circuit Court records.
“I have no comment,” Minix said when reached by telephone at his home Wednesday.
The church had been saving money for a new building, Scottsville Police Department Detective Brad Emery said.
The congregation has seen its membership drop from about 70 members to 35 since news of the theft rocked the congregation in September, interim Pastor Roy Yoakem said.
“I guess we were more heartbroken than anything,” Yoakem said. “Our church consists mainly of elderly people. The average age of the congregation is about 60 years. And they just couldn’t believe that he would do something like this.”
“A pastor’s position is a position of trust. We told him we forgave him biblically because that’s what the Bible teaches, but the law has to take its part, too,” Yoakem said.
Minix made a self-incriminating statement in front of the congregation in September, Yoakem said.
“His words were, ‘I just let it slip through my fingers,’ ” Yoakem said.
After that statement, the church saw its congregation dwindle. The congregation currently gathers at 108 S. Court St. in an old storefront.
Minix was the pastor, treasurer and secretary of the church, Emery said. Minix does not have a prior criminal record.
Emery opened an investigation into Minix in August after receiving a complaint, he said. Emery alleges that over a 12-year period, Minix stole $300,000.
The church didn’t have a bank account, Emery said. Emery accuses Minix of collecting money intended for the church, depositing it into an account he controlled and then spending the money.
“I do have some more investigation to do on it,” Emery said.
The church now has officially incorporated, Yoakem said, something the congregation thought had already happened. Remaining congregants elected a treasurer and secretary in addition to Yoakem’s election as interim pastor, a job that Yoakem is not paid to do.
Minix was arrested and posted a $25,000 surety bond to secure his release from the Allen County Jail.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)