@doschicos wrote
See, I find your friend’s statement disingenuous.
I already know how my friends feel; I don’t need them offering to hold my hand over political matters on social media. People who post about their struggles with illness-yes, absolutely, they want to feel like they are not alone and it’s absolutely appropriate to reach out to ask for or give support.
Struggles with politicians? Not so much. >:)
Some people in marginalized groups might feel differently or people who don’t share your dragon-like sense of self, @MotherOfDragons. 
Some of us have our struggles with illnesses and politicians all tied up into one messy bell.
Yes, I post political things because my life may depend on it. If it bothers someone enough, they can delete me. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life anyway.
" Comment sections on newspaper sites and youtube etc. are the worst!!! "
Heck yeah ! A few weeks ago, my daughter was driving in a snow storm and was involved in an accident that totaled her car. It made the local newspaper in the area of the accident as well as the ABC affiliate in Boston.
The nasty and thoughtless comments on their media’s FB pages as well as their own websites really upset me. I walked away , but my sister took a few
Don’t bother even looking at the comments section on online news sites, youtube and the like. It’s akin to visiting Dante’s 9 Circles of Hell.
I only read the comments on the NYT now and often write a comment myself. It’s much more civilized than any other I’ve ever seen, including WaPo.
@lje62, that’s horrid. What possible nasty things couid someone say about an auto accident due to weather related issues?!?
@lie62, that’s terrible. Those commenting would never say that to someone’s face. Anonymity often gives them license to be mean.
Just this morning, I was thinking about the old days when you had a gripe it was suggested that you “write a letter to the editor”.
Since I inhabit a number of marginalized groups, I can certainly empathize. My issue is with your friend saying they were posting something for one reason, when really, it was another. It has nothing to do with a healthy “sense of self” (or whatever that is?), and everything to do with being honest.
If you want to post about politics, that’s fine, I’ll probably mute you until you get over yourself (on either end of the political spectrum). Just don’t pretend like you’re reaching out to help me (“you’re not alone”), when in fact you’re doing it for yourself.
That’s uncool, in my book.
I see it differently. I do like to see that others have the same concerns I do - solidarity and such. And often sharing of information. THAT is the point. If it doesn’t work for you, I guess you think differently than I do. And that’s cool, too. You do you.
The WaPo doesn’t seem to moderate their comments at all. Things just so quickly unravel in cases like that, don’t they? I find it a sad commentary on the human condition. If they don’t want to expend the energy to moderate, they shouldn’t leave the comment section open.
There are extensions that block comments sections. I have one. It makes life better. For me it was literally a health issue. I have a bad heart that goes on the fritz at stress. Those comments often cause stress even if I just see them by accident (by scrolling down to much on accident, for example.)
Agree. I’m not a regular reader of WaPo and I couldn’t believe some of the comments! I was shocked that a paper so highly regarded allowed comments like the ones I’ve read. Completely opposite of the comment sections in the NYT. There are obviously opinions which vary greatly, but I’ve never seen anything like the vitriol in the WaPo or other media sites in their comment sections.
I recently discovered that Amazon prime got me free WaPo, and reading the comments on WaPo articles has made me very grateful for the NYT much more civilized comments (or their mods!)
The mods definitely help. I have preferred some of WaPo’s coverage lately but I ignore the comments. Easy to do as you have to click on that comment button to view them. You guys need more self control! 
I believe Jeff Bezos owns WaPo.
A few years ago my family started a foundation working with underserved rural communities in Mexico. (Not meant to toot my own horn but to give context to the below.)
Just spent the day visiting a small rural school with a donor who has funded one of our school building projects and now wants to do more, touring a beautiful piece of land given to us by the government where with the help of many generous donors we’ll be able to build a dental clinic, nutrition center, community center, sports field and more, arranging a lunch with someone who wants to buy us an expensive piece of machinery and help us set up as a charity in Canada, and counting the proceeds from a community festival where somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 people gathered to celebrate and support us. There are so many good people in the world and I feel truly lucky to have encountered so many of them.
@doschicos Do you click on what’s trending on Facebook. Those stories sometimes have some of the most absurd comments. A lot of the posters are fake accounts.
Wait – I have Prime – can I get free WaPo???
“I believe Jeff Bezos owns WaPo.”
You are correct, sir. Wait, are you a sir? I think you are. :-?
@intparent Yes! 6 months free. https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/prime/#/
@raclut Very rarely. If I see something while on my newsfeed that pops up in the upper right, I’ll occasionally click for a news related story but don’t care much about trending stuff. I have found out about a few deaths of famous people via that feature though before I heard about them elsewhere.
There are those of us whose lives are, or will be, directly and immediately affected by the statements – and, more importantly, the actions – of certain politicians. And yes, it makes people feel better to know that they’re not alone in facing those consequences, and to be able to talk about their fears, and about dealing with them. Without facing dismissiveness or ridicule. Solidarity can be a good thing. Which is why my Facebook page is friends-only, and why I only accept friend invitations from people I know won’t behave like that. I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where none of the family members and real-life friends who are on my friends list feel any differently, or have fundamentally different views from mine on certain important issues. If they did, and couldn’t be respectful about it, I would probably block them without de-friending them (since I understand that there’s a way to do that). I go on Facebook because I enjoy it. Not to argue with people.