Writing · Wisdom and life
Owning Your Mental Space in a Divided Digital World
By Richard K. Marshall · Originally published
Arguing on the internet is like teaching a cat to play fetch. It's pointless, frustrating, and you'll probably end up with something you didn't want.
We all know it. We rarely admit it.
Politics in your pocket
Politics used to be a dinner-table topic. The worst case was a heated debate and an awkward silence.
Now our screens put us in a 24/7 political cage match. Each side hurls digital Molotovs, without noticing the flames are singeing its own peace of mind.
Here's the kicker. Some of the people you're arguing with may be bots, or trolls paid to rile you up. Fighting them does nothing for your mental health. They have no empathy and no capacity to be persuaded. They're the Sirens of our time, luring you onto the rocks of rage.
Tend your beliefs like a garden
Your beliefs aren't a statue. They're a garden. Here's how to tend it without getting lost in the weeds.
- Look for the truth. In a world where "truth" comes with air quotes, that means digging deeper. Verify before you vilify.
- Learn from other views. Read things that challenge you, to understand, not to argue. Wisdom grows from many perspectives, not echo chambers.
- Prune the propaganda. If something is built to make you angry or afraid, take a breath. That's not what you want growing in your garden.
- Stick to real facts. Facts don't care about your feelings. But how you feel about facts shapes your mental health.
Log off
Here's a radical idea: log off.
Yes, I said it. The digital world will keep spinning. Your mental health needs you to step off the carousel now and then.
- Take a digital detox. Set times when the only thing you connect with is the real world. Nature doesn't have Wi-Fi, but you'll find a better connection.
- Be choosy about media. Treat it like your diet. Junk food for thought leads to mental indigestion.
- Don't engage. Sometimes silence is the strongest statement. Not every argument deserves your time or your peace.
Your most precious real estate
Your mental health is your most precious real estate. Don't let political division, trolls or bots squat there rent-free.
Next time you feel the pull of an online argument, ask yourself: is this the hill I want to be exhausted on?
Chances are it isn't even a hill. It's a pixelated molehill.
— Richard K. Marshall Lexington, Kentucky
Originally published on X: https://x.com/RichMarshall/status/1833920263882224102 · . Refreshed .