Unfriending

Let’s address that side effect of our middling awakening, or penultimate last stand, depending on point of view, in what some media outlets called a ‘disconnect wave.’

In that first year of pandemic rages, some folks had great difficulties understanding why their formerly tolerated opinions were less tolerated, to the degree where family members and lifelong friends were unfriending or unfollowing folks on social media, even severing contact in real life.

Many were heartbroken, many outraged, that their longtime buddies would go so far as to actively disengage from a long-maintained bond between two people over differing opinions. The blow-back was considerable, if not unexpected. In the moment it could feel overkill, too final a solution.

Except it wasn’t overkill.

Here’s why.