Unless you live under a rock, you are probably well aware of the Facebook “Like” button that allows you to go around the Internet and showing your approval of a people/place/thing by “Liking” them with a press of the aforementioned “Like” button.  There is a noticeable absence of a “Dislike” button.  After all when a friend posts of their wall that they lost their job it seems pretty cruel to acknowledge that fact by “Liking” their comment.  Obviously there should be a “Dislike” button so that one can both acknowledge and show displeasure in the comment, right?

But then I started thinking about things like sex and violence on television, violent video games, politics, the works of hate groups such as the Westboro Church and other facets our culture that can be polarizing in debate.  We may not agree with sentiments expressed by groups such as Westboro Church, for example, but so long as they do not infringe on my right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness than they have every right to spout off whatever craziness they so choose, I simply choose not to listen.

Thus why I think not having a “Dislike” button is perhaps the most American thing about Facebook.  You may not agree with every person or group on Facebook, but at the end of the day they have a right to exist.  And just as I ignore television shows I find distasteful, I simply ignore those things on the Internet I dislike, no need to express it, because what’s the point?  Disliking would become a game for those people and groups who take pride in being as destructive and divisive as they can be.  So there is no need to feed that, we simply ignore the fringe.  And we rise above by liking the good things.  So kudos Facebook on NOT having a “Dislike” button.  Good reminder to us all that the best medicine for extremism is to turn the other cheek until they infringe on our life or liberty, at which point they’ve probably broken the law so then we can let justice take her course.  And that I “Like”!