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Facebook etiquette when 'friend' posts something you find objectionable?

21 replies

greybluegeometry · 09/02/2019 14:21

I am quite new to facebook. Not a big fan, partly because it made me realise I didn't really like two of my friends as the stuff they posted was ranty and offensive and , frankly, nasty. It was like a window into the darkest and bitterest parts of their soul. Like their picture in the attic had control of their facebook page.
Anyway, a new acquaintance, whom I like, recently asked me to be facebook friends. I accepted. I don't agree with the views in her posts, but the latest expresses a view I find really, really offensive.

I'll ignore it . But it got me thinking, is there an etiquette? Is the etiquette that you ignore posts you disagree with?

I don't really like people promoting their politics via facebook tbh. Its' different in person when you can have a reasonable and interesting conversation face to face. But via facebook I feel like people are shouting their views at me. Especially given that the tone used often leave a lot to be desired....

OP posts:
bellasg · 09/02/2019 14:26

Delete or block people you don't like.

HollowTalk · 09/02/2019 14:27

I would just get off Facebook. I agree it can bring out the absolute worst in some people.

WeeMadArthur · 09/02/2019 14:28

You can Unfollow them so you don’t see any posts, but if what they believe is so offensive then unfriending them is probably the way to go.

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TheGirlOnTheLanding · 09/02/2019 14:29

Not sure whether it's the etiquette, but I tend to ignore this sort of thing, for the reasons you give and because I think tumbleweed on a post is probably as effective as a disapproving comment. I do, however, unfollow acquaintances if they frequently post offensive nonsense - I like my Facebook feed to be funnny memes and interesting events and people's pictures of interesting places. If I want politics, I go to Twitter.

TheSmallAssassin · 09/02/2019 14:37

If things are factually incorrect, I will point them out, diplomatically if it's a good friend. I don't mind getting into an argument though. Some people really don't like being challenged, obviously, but I think if you're going to spout your horrible opinions in public, fair dos. I'm not sure that many people change their minds after an argument on social media, but I also worry that if no-one pipes up, extreme views become socially acceptable.

It depends upon how much hassle you want and how much you have to do with that person, sometimes it's easier just to unfollow, unfriend, or block.

ShadyLady53 · 09/02/2019 14:43

I lost friends through Facebook, like you I realised that people’s nasty side was coming out via there and I just didn’t want to be friends with people who thought like that.

I’m now totally off FB and all Social Media.

The other day I was talking about a new friend with an old friend who doesn’t know her but can’t stand her, saying to her that I don’t understand why so many people hate her as she’s very sweet and not a bit of bother. My friend showed me her FB page and I “got it”. She was a totally different person online to who she is IRL. So much so that people would not even give her a chance to get to know her.

icannotremember · 09/02/2019 14:44

It depends. Sometimes I'll comment to disagree with them, sometimes I'll just delete them, sometimes it's such a one off thing that I just ignore them.

ComtesseDeSpair · 09/02/2019 14:49

I don’t share the same opinions as all my friends, and it’s fine, I don’t need to live in an echo chamber. Some of them have opinions that I’m sure would offend some people, but they don’t me. Stuff like that which I simply disagree with, I just ignore. People who post vast swathes of it, I unfollow so I don’t see it in my feed. If it was actively deeply and universally offensive stuff (i.e. actually outright racist or homophobic etc, rather than more subjective topics) then I’d comment to say so and would no longer consider that person a friend. Fortunately, none of my actual friends have ever posted anything that falls into that category.

madcatladyforever · 09/02/2019 14:51

I ignore everything and if it's intolerable I just make sure I can't view anything they post.

SandAndSea · 09/02/2019 14:52

You can unfollow people, so they're still 'friends' on there but they don't pop up on your feed and they won't know you've done it.

That said, depending on their views, you could unfriend them. Lots of people find this upsetting though, depending how it's done.

It's not the healthiest place to be imo.

flameycakes · 09/02/2019 14:56

I've got 6 friends on Facebook, only use it to sell stuff really, my block list is epic however lol

SpanielEars070 · 09/02/2019 15:02

I've trimmed mine massively to just family... it's been really nice, and I only see what I want to.

greybluegeometry · 09/02/2019 15:02

I have unfollowed. I unfollow most friends as I mainly use facebook for getting information relevant to a career I am training for. I don't have time for frequent posters or the energy for obnoxious posts.

I just wondered if there was an etiquette everyone but me was aware of.

OP posts:
Omgineedanamechange · 09/02/2019 15:13

The main thing I use Facebook for is posting links that discredit the utter shite that pretty much everyone I have on there posts. It usually goes like this:
Random person “ it’s a disgrace that illegal immigrants get more money than pensioners”
Me “actually that’s horseshit, here’s a link that proves it”
RP “oh, well I still think it’s disgusting”
Several friends of RP “it’s shudnt be aloud hun”
Me “it’s not allowed, read my link”
Everyone else “disgusting hun”

greybluegeometry · 09/02/2019 15:16
Grin
OP posts:
Duckshead · 09/02/2019 15:19

Haha Omgineedanamehcange!

E20mom · 09/02/2019 15:35

If it's racist or something like that I report the post. I stay Facebook friends with an acquaintance just so I can keep reporting their racist posts. They don't know who it is and it annoys them as it blocks them from posting sometimes so it's worth it for me!

Milicentbystander72 · 09/02/2019 15:40

I ignore.

Luckily I don't have any racist or really
Offensive people on my fb. However one friend of mine is a rapid Corbyn supporter and member of Momentum. My politics are much more Centre. Once I questioned something she's said and indicated I didn't much like Corbyn. She really went mental at me and it actually caused huge problems in RL for a few months.
I've never spoken about politics before on fb and I've certainly learned my lesson.

So now, I ignore.

Saucery · 09/02/2019 15:45

I comment and challenge and if it’s brought up in rl I will discuss it further, politely. That’s for stuff like Katie Hopkins bollocks, or that men can biologically become women- really offensive stuff gets them deleted off my Friends list. I tell them in rl (if they ask) that while I value debate and don’t mind views opposite to my own, some stuff I just don’t want to see on my feed, ever. This approach has only once led to someone shouting at me that they are NOT disablist and how could I even think that, so fuck off! Which only proved they weren’t the type of person I want on my FB anyway Grin

EnidButton · 09/02/2019 16:08

The trouble with Facebook is people build an echo chamber with it and so end up thinking that their way of thinking must be the correct one because "everyone else thinks/says the same."

When those views and opinions are racist, misogynistic etc unfortunately seeing the likes and comments agreeing with them emboldens their opinions and makes them stronger.

You can either try and burst that bubble briefly by explaining why you find their post offensive and why you think they're wrong. Or you can leave them to it. It's a case of choose your battles really.

You can't reason with stupid.

tierraJ · 09/02/2019 17:57

One of my work colleagues posted a speech by an actual German Nazi (far right afd party) about Brexit. Colleague is pro Brexit.

I pointed out "that speech is by a Nazi" & she actually replied "I don't care"!!

She works in our very multicultural hospital!!

I can't unfriend her as she's part of our team & I work with her a lot. If we fall out it will create problems at work.
So I've Unfollowed her.

I sometimes post Anti Fascist stuff though & have been unfriended as a result by two more far right work colleagues.

I'm shocked in fact by how many of my white, mainly working class family & friends do post this far right shit!
Sometimes I speak out but I'm careful.

Also some of my Pakistani friends can be anti Semitic- I remind them that my Nan was Jewish.

On the whole I like Facebook but sometimes it gets too much.

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