"If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." Put it in a meme instead. Or post it in the comment section on a Facebook thread. Definitely tweet it. Anything goes there, right? Let it rip!
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Yep, if you want to catch a glimpse of the worst of human nature, it's right there. Tune in around election time to really get a taste. If you were on Facebook during our recent election night, you probably know what I mean.
First there was shock. Everyone was shocked. Even the bookies were shocked by Scott Morrison's win. Then, for some, the anger. And the blame. And the expletives. Cue the tantrums, the finger-pointing, the classism, the othering, the character attacks, the generalising, the vulgarity, the lack of civil discourse, and the abandonment of any hope of constructive conversation or rational debate.
Sadly, some of the least constructive commentary came from public figures. Jane Caro took to Twitter to "stick two rude fingers up at all the truculent turds who voted to turn backwards". Cathy Wilcox tweeted that "morons outnumber the thinking people". Mike Carlton wanted to "declare war on Queensland," and Meshel Laurie called her fellow-Australians "dumb, mean-spirited, and greedy". (Several later apologised or clarified their tweets.)
If only we could take a breath, step away from the keyboard and see the barbarism of it all. Because when we indulge in these primal instincts, we put at risk the very system our society was founded upon.
A system we preserve and protect through elections, debate and discussion.
When we go on the attack on social media, we demonise the individual who disagrees with us, and we shut down the possibility of constructive communication and civil discourse. Instead, we move towards tyrannical intimidation and bullying tactics intended to oppress opposing viewpoints rather than engage with them in the hope of solving problems and accomplishing goals.
The result is a society of intolerant, self-righteous people who prioritise their own beliefs while dismissing and disrespecting the differing beliefs of others. If only we could keep in mind that, when done properly, civil discourse seeks facts and analysis, tolerance and humility, to achieve a common end; it doesn't will the demise of our opposition. It seeks compromise.
Because that's what democracy is, give and take. You don't get to have it your way 100 per cent of the time.
And when it's not your way, spitting the dummy and lighting the internet on fire with scathing personal attacks on people who think differently than you do only serves to disrespect the very system that affords you the freedoms you enjoy, and it breaks down the fabric of community.
Trying to force others to conform to your beliefs in a diverse society doesn't unite people, it divides. And if we strive to punish through insult those who dare to disagree with us, we only work to break down the democratic nature of our society.
We begin to "other" people who had been our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues, and see them as faceless adversaries and thumbnail threats who impede our vision of a world that reflects "me".
But a democracy is meant to serve the people, not just the individual. And it's times like these, when democracy is being challenged worldwide by politicians who exploit populist interests and divide nations down party lines to advance political careers and agendas, that we must recognise the importance of bipartisanship and compromise when building a strong society and government.
We've got to swallow our pride, temper our judgment of others, find the courage to discuss the critical issues that divide us, and remember that it's mateship that defines our national character.
If you don't have anything nice to say, think harder. Rise to a better version of yourself.
Use the freedoms that a democratic society affords you to create a more tolerant community, one that reflects the goodness and humility in us all. One that reminds us what it is to be Australian
