1. I want to create a culture of commenting on (perhaps even sharing of) worthwhile posts. I hope that others will reciprocate. Usually I know the person; they’ve made an excellent point; and I want to recognize I’ve read and really taken to heart what they wrote in a way that a simple “Like” won’t do.
2. I know the person; they’ve posted something I disagree with; and I want to find out how they’ve come to a certain way of thinking. I have found that — done the correctly — you can actually have constructive conversations on social media by asking respectful questions.
3. It doesn’t really matter if I know or don’t know the person; they’ve made an offensive or derisive comment; and it requires challenging, especially because it’s made on social media and can hurt others. If appropriate, I try to comment in a way that keeps this person as a Facebook Friend.
Of course, I also have written and deleted my comments. However, for me it’s usually because my post is really poor writing, and I would fail to offer anything constructive.
Because I’m right. And because I want everyone to know how brilliant and clever I am.
I’ve written and deleted comments as well. Many times. I almost never comment on strangers social media posts, unless I want to say something positive. If a person is being offensive or spewing hatred, I ignore it as it is nearly impossible to change that individual’s mind on what they believe or are saying, and, calling them out just makes them dig in deeper.
I think that’s why I like intellectual roundtable. It is a platform to voice opinions, occasionally very different, and discuss topics with people who place value on everyone’s right to their own beliefs, even when they don’t agree.
You have no idea how much your last paragraph makes Lee and me.
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