Unreasonably frustrated with comments on facebook

[FTEngineerM]

I know I should just not look. I deleted it for a long time but here I am back on Facebook and within a month I’m finding myself getting frustrated by the things I read in the comments section of news articles and the likes.

I can’t really understand why? Nothing else makes me as frustrated, I’m pretty calm and chilled almost all the time but as soon as I scroll passed something that’s obviously untrue or just spewing essentially hate for no reason I can’t help but start typing 😬.

Am I the only one? Why am I getting this frustrated? invites all armchair psychologists to help It seems that so many have lost all sense of logic, and then write about things they have no understanding of online oh the irony whilst being as nasty as possible to each other.

It’s not an isolated incident, any news article that is pushing the current thing to get angry about, the comments are full of absolute insanity in polarised opinions with not many taking a reasoned view of both sides.

I am convinced that Facebook is not good for most people's mental health. I deleted it years ago and I can't tell you how much happier I am!

No, you're not the only one.

This is why I deleted Facebook. Not good for mental health, IMO.

The way I look at it is:
everyone is entitled to thier opinions, but I don't have to see it, read it, engage with them or debate it.

If I want to chat with them, I'll do it face to face. People are less likely to have extreme views face to face. There is something of a "keyboard warrior" when using Facebook and people will unlikely to be like that in person.

@Laquila I think you’re right!

@minou123 it must be an anonymous thing because the last one I almost commented on had eventually ended up with insults after looking at each other’s profiles; from just having opposing views which some were so obviously extreme and had lost all sense 👀. I stepped away from the keyboard.

I thought some time away would make me less likely to comment on frustrating things but it’s exactly the same.

Saying that this website is pretty anon and it isn’t like that, hmmmm, odd.

Saying that this website is pretty anon and it isn’t like that, hmmmm, odd.

I think its because there are moderators here. So, you can't go too far with insults as you'll be deleted.

Whereas FB doesn't have someone constantly watching. And I think only very extreme and illegal stuff is deleted. Otherwise its a free for all.

If you want to respond and challenge people's views, I find if often helps if I ask myself: "Do I want to change this person's opinion or Do I want to tell them they are wrong?"
This helps with making sure I don't get frustrated or get personal.

The other thing I do, which I learned on MN, is ask questions. Get the person to talk themselves round.

For example:
Person A: "This thing I the News is disgusting. They should be sacked/locked up"
You: "do you think that is the full story, or do you think this newspaper is saying this for shock value?"
Etc

This often works because it's less confrontational..