Posted on Mar 5, 2015
How to tactfully address a social media concern: Your thoughts?
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This is a personal question but one that has been weighing on me a lot. I do NOT want this post to get off topic. I will notify an admin and have the comments removed. I asking the military community in hopes that someone with onsite or personal experience can help mentor me on this... Ok here goes...
My brother is 4 years older than me. He is a civilian who works as a union electrician. His wife is a prominent employee at Google and they have one child together whom I just adore. My brother and I have very opposite political views but tend to cordially disagree or allow each other their opinion.
Recently, I posted a CNN Article about Ben Carson "proving sexuality is a choice" but watching his video, he throws a very invalid argument regarding sexuality with a highly irrelivent analogy about prisoners (Linked at the end of this). I posted it and expressed my dismay over how he could possibly consider this a valid argument. My brother commented on it in a very particular way that just rubbed me wrong. The thread turned into a political bashing supported by some of my other friends (soldiers I served with in other units) and I have yet to comment as I don't want to take on that fight (yet). Basically, how do I tell him to not utilize my page as a platform for his political ideologies and to respect my right to voice my own but without potentially causing friction on our relationship?
I currently live in Oregon and drive to California each month for drill and since LIK does not afford me a hotel room Sunday night before I must return home, he has been offering me his guest room when I am down which also allows me to see him, my nephew, and sister in law. Our childhood was riddled with fights and disharmony between us for reasons I won't go into on here, and it has taken a long time to repair our relationship and I don't want this to be another schism between us, but I also don't want him to plaster his beliefs into my page. Until now, most all of the posts have been kept on our respective walls. I allow him his posts and he, in turn, has tolerated mine.
My brother is 4 years older than me. He is a civilian who works as a union electrician. His wife is a prominent employee at Google and they have one child together whom I just adore. My brother and I have very opposite political views but tend to cordially disagree or allow each other their opinion.
Recently, I posted a CNN Article about Ben Carson "proving sexuality is a choice" but watching his video, he throws a very invalid argument regarding sexuality with a highly irrelivent analogy about prisoners (Linked at the end of this). I posted it and expressed my dismay over how he could possibly consider this a valid argument. My brother commented on it in a very particular way that just rubbed me wrong. The thread turned into a political bashing supported by some of my other friends (soldiers I served with in other units) and I have yet to comment as I don't want to take on that fight (yet). Basically, how do I tell him to not utilize my page as a platform for his political ideologies and to respect my right to voice my own but without potentially causing friction on our relationship?
I currently live in Oregon and drive to California each month for drill and since LIK does not afford me a hotel room Sunday night before I must return home, he has been offering me his guest room when I am down which also allows me to see him, my nephew, and sister in law. Our childhood was riddled with fights and disharmony between us for reasons I won't go into on here, and it has taken a long time to repair our relationship and I don't want this to be another schism between us, but I also don't want him to plaster his beliefs into my page. Until now, most all of the posts have been kept on our respective walls. I allow him his posts and he, in turn, has tolerated mine.
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 8
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SPC Lukas Jones
Not that long ago there use to be an unwritten rule between Soldiers in the field. In group settings we never discussed politics and religion, everything else was fair game. Well with social media so much for that huh? Just look at the nonsense that happens on this site.
My advice is that if you and your brother cannot agree to disagree, you keep your opinions to yourself including your social media sites. I am pretty much the last surviving member of my family, you should never let anything drive a wedge between you and your family. Most of the crap is meaningless and not worth the effort and, definitely not worth the aftermath.
Not that long ago there use to be an unwritten rule between Soldiers in the field. In group settings we never discussed politics and religion, everything else was fair game. Well with social media so much for that huh? Just look at the nonsense that happens on this site.
My advice is that if you and your brother cannot agree to disagree, you keep your opinions to yourself including your social media sites. I am pretty much the last surviving member of my family, you should never let anything drive a wedge between you and your family. Most of the crap is meaningless and not worth the effort and, definitely not worth the aftermath.
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You are both adults and the only way to resolve something like this is to say something directly.
Key thing both of you need to remember is that you are Family First!
Life is too short for holding things in and allowing different views to separate y'all.
Key thing both of you need to remember is that you are Family First!
Life is too short for holding things in and allowing different views to separate y'all.
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SPC Lukas Jones
In another post, he basically claims that I am "milking the system" because I am receiving disability pay and using my GI Bill and Army TA to pay for school while I am earning my degree (currently unemployed). He was commenting on both simultaneously. But yes, we are both adults and family. I will sleep on it and find a mature way of talking to him about it tomorrow. I try not to let my emotions dictate my responses.
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As bad as this sounds...WHO CARES. Listen i can get that you and your brother don't get along to great but he's your family. There isn't a way to resolve it. Both of you need to have a sit-down have a nice lengthy debate over a beer or two see each others views and accept each others opinion. Family is the most important thing in your life. I was given up by my parents at the age of 4. i was lucky enough to be adopted at that age. Sadly 4 years later my mother passed from cancer that she had been fighting. Then i got to go live with my dad and his new wife and they were both very physically and emotionally abusive. Out of my close to 50 family members i used to have i only have 4 now. I have no family except for a set of grandparents and an aunt and uncle. Family is whats important not political views.
Good luck and i hope you and your brother can get passed this issue
Good luck and i hope you and your brother can get passed this issue
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