Chronicle poll results: Blocking people on social media
We asked our readers if they have blocked someone on social media because they disagree about the Hamas/Israel war. Here's what they said.
Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Have you blocked someone on social media because you disagree about the Hamas/Israel war?” Of the 207 people who responded, 35% said yes; 54% said no; and 11% said they weren’t on social media. Comments were submitted by 41 people. A few follow.
Why block them when you can simply ghost them instead?
Not that I haven’t really wanted to do so, but I practice and preach that “one can only make peace with an enemy” — so I keep the dialogue going in the longshot hope that something I post may finally resonate with the antisemite/ignoramus and reduce their blind hatred/cluelessness.
I have not blocked anyone based on this or any other issue. If a person is a friend or colleague and thus we are connected on social media, it seems that would be a good place to begin fostering mutual understanding.
Blocks are for abusive behavior, not opinions. I’d block someone I agree with if the person is being a jerk. Respectful discourse about disagreements is good for society; we need to get out of our bubbles.
People don’t understand that Hamas started the war. It’s hard for me to be friendly with someone who can’t understand that point of view.
I block every Zionist I encounter online.
I post “Stand with Israel” material and my photo has “Stand with Israel.” I have not blocked anyone nor have I been blocked. But if someone is a Hamas supporter and posts that on a response or their post, I will drop them as a contact.
First, I unfriended a few people. Then I just deactivated my entire account.
I want to see what the other side has to say, no matter how misinformed they may be.
I’ve learned some uncomfortable truths about any number of (former) friends on the so-called progressive left.
Rather than blocking someone, I’ve valued the opportunity to reach out to people mindlessly supporting virtually everything Israel does in Gaza and also the West Bank in an attempt to get them to consider the immorality of the actions and the effect it will have on peoples’ view of Israel and of Jews in general. These atrocities have to stop — they endanger us all.
Absolutely, and it’s not so much because of their views on the war — it’s the lies and conspiracies they were repeating that caused me to say, “Enough is enough; I don’t want to see this crap.” PJC
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