Some time ago I wrote a post on Facebook, in which I said that I keep watching people from my kitchen window on the second floor, who let their dog go into our front yard, see if anyone is watching, and then quickly and as inconspicuously as possible search. I angrily commented on what I thought of it (not much) and hoped for encouragement from my friends. Not even close. Only a few got upset with me. Many others said, however, that I also had to understand the dog owners, after all nobody would like to step over a wall into a strange front yard and anyway – I should take a bag and just put the poop away instead of getting so excited.
Then the Corona crisis came.
All public institutions, restaurants and schools were already closed, all events had been canceled, all contacts had been reduced to a minimum, and there was now a question of a total curfew – and many people who described themselves as Democrats also called for them. I was horrified. That neither about the economic consequences of the shutdown nor about the deprivation of civil rights, for which people have fought for centuries, let alone the proportionality of all these restrictions in the name of infection control. I also wrote this on Facebook and linked to relevant essays and comments.
My opinion was not very popular at the time.
To make a long story short: my opinion was not very popular at the time. I am heartless, neoliberal, selfish, "exponential curve – you still haven't grasped it, right?" How can I say that? And yes, I was sometimes offended and excited about the comments. My husband said, "Just leave it, save yourself the strength." That's why I decided to forego social media for a couple of days. It was good for me. Nevertheless I wrote something about it again. It is not so, that I'm out for riot or like to argue. Of course, I also know that Facebook is not the ideal medium for factual discussions.
On the other hand, I think: If you have an opinion, you should also have the courage to straighten your back and stand in public instead of keeping it to yourself just because it's more convenient. I try to teach my children that too: "If something bothers you, you have to say it. And in case of doubt loud!"
I think in a democratic society it is important to map different points of view.
When I express myself on social media, I'm not so much concerned with convincing friends who think completely differently. The main thing for me is to find out who thinks similarly to me – to create networks. And to show the silent majority that it's okay to have a different opinion and stand by it. I think in a democratic society it is important to map different points of view. If this leads to a lively discussion on my account, I'm glad. Probably can I think so because it has never been particularly important to me to be liked by many. At least not for the price in my opinion. But of course there are limits. My son, with whom I had spoken a lot about my critical attitude towards the corona shutdown, gave these arguments in a shortened form to his 11-year-old friends. They were instructed and shocked differently by their parents. I advised him not to do so – because I fear that in this case he cannot assess or bear the consequences of a controversial opinion.
Because of course my strong opinions have cost me relationships (not only on Facebook). And at the beginning of the crisis, I made friends on Facebook of a woman I actually really like in real life. But I found their contributions to Corona so fearful and wrong, they made me so excited – I couldn't read that anymore! I also had to think about my blood pressure.
Anja Haegele, 48, is a BRIGITTE editor and is primarily responsible for travel issues.
You can find further background and information in the interview with taboo expert Dr. Sabine Krajewski.
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