Page 6 | If someone didn't post anything about BLM

022828MAN · 2020-06-07T16:33:43+00:00

If someone you know didn't post anything on SM about BLM would you think that it was unreasonable or not? I've recently had a disagreement about this but don't want to say just yet which person I am in the situation to get a clear picture. So, YABU - Yes it's completely unreasonable not to post about it YANBU - No, not everything needs to be posted to social media

CrazyVictorian · 07/06/2020 22:12

As a professional (I class that as someone who has to belong to a professional body, be it a barrister or a nurse) you should always think twice before posting on social media.

Don't get drawn into debate which may discredit your profession. You have no idea who is watching and who may report you for their own reasons.

It's a sad state of affairs but this is why I don't use the name I go by at work on SM or post anything that could start arguments.

Stormwhale · 07/06/2020 22:26

I haven't posted anything on sm. I have however had a long talk with my daughter about racism, teaching her as much as I can and telling her how important it is to support those experiencing racism. She is 6, and asked a lot of questions. She couldn't understand why it was even happening and was very shocked to hear how things were in the past. I hope by having this sort of conversations with my children as they grow up, I will be helping eradicate racism in the next generation. I think that is more useful longterm than a facebook post.

BolloxtoGender · 07/06/2020 22:29

It is not free speech when someone say to you your silence means you are racist/complicit. It is essentially compelled speech.

TheMurk · 07/06/2020 22:44

I am actually sick of being told what to think, accused of ignorance, told to “educate myself”, told to check my privilege, told to repost statements and told to make my own statements admitting my shortcomings, all in reference to this sudden fervour for anti-racism from people I know for a fact have not given one single thought to it prior to last Tuesday.

Please fuck off and give me peace.

BolloxtoGender · 07/06/2020 22:51

Yep

sunshinewishes · 07/06/2020 22:56

No, because social media isn't real life and it does not define me.

MyOwnSummer · 07/06/2020 23:34

I think I might know this person, OP. Either that or we know two very similar people, and have reached a similar conclusion! (My annoying friend's initial starts with R)

It's all about context. If you're someone who doesn't post much, or keeps your posts non-political it would seem too much like jumping on a bandwagon. It just wouldn't feel authentic, and would probably come across that way too.

I am absolutely willing to listen and debate, but I get very annoyed with people telling me to do things. No thank you, I prefer to take my time to understand an issue. I resent being told what to think and how to express my thoughts, even when the cause is genuinely righteous.

showmewhatyougot · 08/06/2020 10:49

Yabu, just because people don't publicly show they are supporting does not mean they are not behind the scenes. If it bothers you that much ask them?

Xenia · 08/06/2020 10:51

Lots of people's employment contracts prohibit things like that and if you have clients sometimes it is better they don't know anything about your views at all as say you are pro Remain and they are brexit they might be put off or they are atheist and you believe inGod or whatever it is - best to steer clear and not put stuff on twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc.

DilemmaDame · 08/06/2020 11:42

I've judged people who have posted. Lots of people 'blacking out' their profile pictures on Instagram and FB. Same people who added the French flag filter on FB or the 'machester' heart after the respective terrorist attacks. It's their small platform and as long as they're not upsetting or offending anyone they can use it how they like, none of my business and I'd never say anything to them. But yes I find it performative and distasteful. I've never seen any of these people post anything other than selfies and holiday pics on their social media so I'm dubious about their motives. Feels a lot like bandwagon jumping to me.

I do have other friends who are consistently, year round politically' demonstrative' on SM and as expected they were vocal in the past few weeks. I expected nothing less of them and respect them for it.

Timesdone · 08/06/2020 11:58

Gosh, I think this post is up there with the OP who thought she ought to give her neighbour a piece of her mind for not joining in clapping for the NHS (I did hope her thread was a windup). Thus current obsession with publically being seen to do the right thing is quite disturbing, like those who seem to think Poppy wearing is mandatory.

Timesdone · 08/06/2020 12:01

Correction to above post for clarity. I didn't mean the OP on this thread, u meant a previous thread by someone else, apologies for confusion.

NeutrinoWrangler · 08/06/2020 12:31

"Performative" is there perfect word for so much of what goes on in social media. Not just with BLM, either, of course.

I have no need for "friends" who would try to dictate how, when, and why I am allowed to use SM. It's ridiculous.

The other day someone I know missed the instructions that she was supposed to post a black square on IG. She went on posting random photos as usual, without really looking at the app. She received some awful comments for daring to post things

When she finally scrolled through and saw what was happening, she rushed to post something "appropriate" with what she thought were the correct hashtags, only to be shouted at by other people that she shouldn't use those hashtags.

This was a person who'd written at great length the day before about how much she cared, how heart-sick she was, etc. But because of her faux pas, she was shamed left and right on IG.

mindutopia · 08/06/2020 12:50

I wouldn't think anything of it. I know which of my school friends from 20 years ago are racist assholes. I don't need to doublecheck their views on BLM to confirm that.

To be honest, I have quite strong views about BLM and anti-racist movements (as in I really strongly support them). But I haven't posted anything on social media. I don't use SM that much anyway, but frankly, I'm trying to work with 2 dc at home and packing up the house for a house move next month (hopefully). I'm exhausted and distracted and I barely know what's happening in the outside world. I would hope my friends don't take that for me being a racist jerk.

kenandbarbie · 08/06/2020 17:32

I didn't post. I don't generally post political things and rarely post at all, if I do it's photos of dc or something funny. I think I did about referendums about abortion and gay marriage (im in roi) and maybe the Manchester bombing. Don't think I've posted about covid 19 or carers though. Maybe funny coronavirus memes. I do have pictures in the window, rainbows and thank you key workers, postmen and bin men because they come to our house and it's a busy road with lots driving past. I liked other people's posts about blm if I saw them and explained all lives matter was bad to dh who didn't know why that was wrong.

I did have a talk with dc about it though. They are 9 and so I think that would make more of a difference, they actually care what I think and are influenced by me.

I didn't think anything either way about people posting or not.

My friends on insta tended to post about it more than on Facebook. I think because they are younger and also I follow a few influencers on there.

imstillbreathingbarely · 08/06/2020 20:24

Some of my friends are posting about it on Facebook. other are not. I wouldn't judge either way. I don't post every cause that is in the news (couldn't do #MeToo as I didn't want to share my story like that and some people have no idea I'm a sex abuse survivor) and some of these challenges like the ice bucket thing leave me cold.

I post about BLM because I care about the cause. Others may have other things they are interested in instead. Some of m friends this month will be posting Pride things, for example and I don't usually post much on that. simply because for me it not abig thing, though for some of my friends it is.

Also there may be those who DO care about BLM but just aren't posting. Not everyone is comfortable sharing.

imstillbreathingbarely · 08/06/2020 20:27

@mindutopia

I wouldn't think anything of it. I know which of my school friends from 20 years ago are racist assholes. I don't need to doublecheck their views on BLM to confirm that.

To be honest, I have quite strong views about BLM and anti-racist movements (as in I really strongly support them). But I haven't posted anything on social media. I don't use SM that much anyway, but frankly, I'm trying to work with 2 dc at home and packing up the house for a house move next month (hopefully). I'm exhausted and distracted and I barely know what's happening in the outside world. I would hope my friends don't take that for me being a racist jerk.

Exactly! We have busy lives and some of us may just not have the extra energy or time. If I hadn't posted a couple of BLM posts (I have) but my friends called me out on it and implied I was racist, I'd be tempted to reach for the block button. I won't have people in my life who can make such assumptions.

PinkCrayon · 08/06/2020 20:33

Just think yourself lucky you dont have them as a friend anymore Op.
They sound ridiculous.

Original poster

022828MAN · 08/06/2020 21:34

PinkCrayon

Absolutely! I have since been told by a mutual friend that she has been posting things all day about shit friends and toxic people being unable to educate themselves and such like.
Desperate, sad and cringeworthy. Thank god I'm out of it now.

OP posts: