With elections comes a lot of annoying hype. Especially when it concerns social media, friendships are strained because of the constant barrage of political opinions. The best approach to hype is to rise above it. So lets take a higher approach and look at what it is all about.
First and foremost, there is the subject of click bait. Now that newspapers and magazines are on their way out, advertisers cannot place adds in between each page. They hope you will click on that sensational article in your news feed. Advertisers and web hosts get paid for the volume of clicks they produce. If you share it, the clicks can be exponential. When a person goes to read most articles it contains the usual drivel that everyone hears constantly. The other side is crazy, a Nazi, had affairs, lied; just take your pick among soap opera dramas. Every political opinion will use extremes to get their points across. A leftist will characterize all successful people as uncaring and lucky. A person on the right will characterize the poor as unappreciative and lazy. This can be expected in every election and yet we click and share hype filled articles and annoy others by sharing. Since liberals represent those who want government expansion, it would follow that private citizens to them are corrupt. A conservative will want minimal government and so it would follow that the government is corrupt to them. If you are a liberal, you know that and so do conservatives. Posting articles will not convince anyone to change their opinion but it does fill the coffers of those who make a living off extreme views. These articles don't educate anyone.
The reality is that everyone has their gaffs and everyone has their good moments. But sound byte peddlers will try to put what will produce the most hysteria and therefore hits. Everyone says things they regret and things that can put them in a bad light. Gone is sticking with issues since they don't produce many clicks. Yet we should be looking at what strengths a candidate has and what they have to offer that will strengthen us together as a nation. No one goes into public office originally to hurt the people they represent. It is up to us to chose those who are more apt to show good leadership. No one really likes a good boss at work. A good boss will challenge us to do better and will make sure the business does well so our jobs will stay. These decisions aren't always popular. The best person is the one who will make hard decisions that will benefit everyone.
