I could tailor this to be a #vaguequestionsbypablo, but I'm a bit more sincere about the question at the moment and I kind of just want your actual thoughts on it.
Disclaimer: I'm not going to screen myself now because it limits my articulation, if I come across as an asshole it's not my intention.
My Facebook feed is nauseating.
Militant feminazis post their hideous blogs to incite anger from both genders on their friends list. Then, they tag my school's Gender "Equality" (HA!) Club to cry misogyny, sexism, homophobia and "fuck you, ugly bastard cyber-bully!" at anyone who tries to tell them to calm down, or at least have some respect.
Israelis share the Israeli Defense Force's facebook page that counts how many rockets are fired on Tel Aviv, and how "Arab cunt sand-niggers should suicide bomb themselves." When my two Syrian and Egyptian friends interject-- both the most incredible people to me who have helped me through the worst of times-- every Israeli on the East Coast shows up to yell anti-Semite and so on.
Somehow, and this is perhaps the worst bit, those...discussions?... exhibit novel-length, single-sentence caps-locked bullshit salads that are reacted to via further bullshit salad-making until I have to pick through the leafy greens of ignorance to find a discernible word to even be angry at anymore.
I used to get involved, somehow I cared and put the effort in and was just as much a part of it.. I knew I was right. Then again, they knew they were right too. That's a tough situation. I happened to be good at it by avoiding personal attack and so on and actually discussing evidence, a concept which they hadn't even considered to be relevant to their bullshittery.. But it didn't make me feel healthy, there was never a compromise or conclusion of any sort, and it only inflated our egos on both sides and made us want to murder each other more.
Now, when my Syrian brother messages me to like a comment or "fuck 'em up" as I apparently grew a reputation of doing, I say no thanks it's not worth it. So far, it's been working. I know I have a bad habit of commenting on absolutely everything on Hubski with little to no valuable input, I swear I'm toning that down, but on Facebook and in person I'm not that kind of guy at all.
Because I've detached myself so effectively, mainly by sticking to specific closed and safe areas for ventilating- Hubski, my school's philosophy club which I lead, and music-- I am no longer damaging myself and whatever sort of "relationship" I have with my classmates. The problem is, as it becomes more evident with people asking me to step in as though I'm expected to represent the cause, as though I'm a traitor for keeping my mouth shut.. I may now be perceived to be weak. No backbone. A guy who won't step up for what matters to him, or defend his friends. A good public speaker or sharp-witted debater when face to face with someone, who "backs out" of arguments now.. what a bitch.
Such is the conflict in my mind. So I ask you Hubski, white knighting and moral halos aside, consolations and feel-betters aside please:
when you keep your mouth shut, or you see someone keeping their mouth shut.. is that a sign of weakness?