About a year or so ago, I wrote a Facebook post where I mentioned that I was unhiding all the people and pages that I had previously hidden, that I was unsanitizing my own news feed, unsiloing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve been contemplating that position recently. I\u2019m still doing this, trying to expose myself to different viewpoints and trying to not dismiss viewpoints contrary to my own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
I recognize that my ability to do this is because of the immense privilege I enjoy. I can do this because differing opinions will only ever affect me as opinions. They will never be a threat to my existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I\u2019m white and live in a predominantly white society, race-based commentary will never be a threat to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I\u2019m straight and live in a predominantly straight society, commentary regarding sexual orientation will never be a threat to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I\u2019m cisgender and live in a predominantly cis society, gender-based commentary will never be a threat to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I\u2019m male and live in a society designed for males, sex-based commentary will never be a threat to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I\u2019m middle class in a society designed for the middle and upper classes, class-based commentary will never be a threat to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I\u2019m generally able-bodied in a society designed for able bodied people, commentary about disabilities will never be a threat to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I\u2019m Christian in a predominantly Christian society, religious commentary will never be a threat to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And because none of this will threaten my existence, I can afford to not turn my Facebook feed into a silo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not everyone has that privilege. Commentary that affects me only as a disagreement can affect others as a direct threat to their existence. Where I might get frustrated with someone arguing with me, others might get anxious, worried, or scared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, while I can still keep my feed unrestricted, I realize not everyone can. And I need to not judge them for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n