Let’s Make the Internet a Nicer Place

So, I’m a bit of a Facebook group junkie. Whenever I encounter a group that caters to an interest in my life, I join without hesitation.

Over the last few days I’ve spent quite a bit more time within the “mom” type groups trying to gather information on common pain points and problems in order to provide valuable content through Charming Imperfections and my eyes were opened to something.

Facebook groups in the “Mom” niche are brutal. It’s just downright savage the way some people comment, and as I read through criticism and judgement dealt from one Mom to another, I became outraged.

But then, I came across a post about another Mom’s stance on a method of raising her children that I completely disagreed with. With self righteous indignation I quickly pounded out my opinion over the keyboard with the intention of setting this woman straight when it came to her kids.

Thankfully, I paused a millisecond before hitting ‘send’.

It hit me like a brick wall.

I was no different from the judgemental, critical moms that angered me so.

Guys and gals, we are missing something HUGE while hiding behind our computers!!! It’s waaaay too easy to take things the wrong way when only reading posts in voices we assign to it’s writer. Then, the filters that normally stand in place in the face to face, spoken world completely fall apart the moment we go to type our opinion to utter strangers.

But, rather than gripe about the problems with this social media driven world, I decided to take action in what I have the power to change: myself.

I’ve put into practice a two step method of preventing myself from saying nasty things, and I wanted to share it with you. Surprisingly, doing these two little actions have made a bigger impact on my life than I thought.

So, when I come across a post or comment that I want to react to with my opinion I do these two things:

1. Pull up their profile picture
2. Say out loud what I was going to type

I have found myself changing my mind on what my initial reaction was going to say one hundred percent of the time.

There’s something about actually seeing that other woman with her family and pets and speaking with the tone of voice you would use in the ‘real world’ that changes everything.

Not only did I find myself taking back what I would have typed out, but I’ve begun to feel a sense of love and camaraderie with these other moms.

Suddenly, instead of criticizing, I noticed a deep desire to help and to stand alongside these women.

We share the common goal of raising our children to the best of our ability and knowledge! It’s one of the hardest jobs ever and yet we are so good at tearing each other down. This is more of a problem in “Mom” groups than any other type of Facebook group and it needs to stop.

If each of us set out to stop and think about what we are typing, and only comment with love and caring, I’m willing to bet it will make an impact and make the internet a nicer place.

Would you care to join me and over two thousand other readers in a revolution for bettering ourselves and our families? Subscribe below to get two free printable packets: one for organizing the home and one for planning the holidays.