The GOP Primary is Getting Toxic on Twitter / X
Young passionate men would be wise to tread lightly and keep above the fray.
To the young political men of "Election 𝕏" (e.g. Twitter, but this applies to pretty much all social media platforms & chat groups): Gather Round Hatchlings. Heed my Warning. Young men active in the 2024 Primary on social media would be wise to tread lightly and keep above the fray.
If you're bullying a friend because they've changed their views, or because of peer pressure, think twice. Chances are, you'll look back with regret for targeting a friend over such differences. Changing your political views is okay. Perhaps it's easier for me since I never planned to enter politics, let alone work in the field. I recognize that many young men who follow me are deeply passionate about politics.
My experiences might not align perfectly with yours, but I've lost several friends whom I once supported, simply because I chose not to back their candidate or disagreed with their choices. If that costs me a friendship, so be it. I'll speak my truth and act on what I believe is right. Many of you have evolved in your views. If you're 16, 18, or 20, that's normal.
The person you are at 18 won't be the same as the one you'll become at 28. Now in my late 20s, I feel more self-assured than I did at 18. It's hard to fathom a scenario at 18 years old where all my friends would turn against me merely because I changed political affiliations or disagreed on a matter.
Post-2020, I certainly lost a number of friends (pretty much everyone has, I feel like), but by then I was an adult, seasoned by numerous experiences, preparing me for heartbreaks and losses. You'll be ok if you lost friends. You should defend yourself, but you shouldn't take abuse or disrespect regardless of the circumstances around the peer pressure. 🐢
