I have lamented frequently on social media in this space.
Its rancorous reach, lack of nuance in 280 or fewer characters and disturbing "cancel culture" fed by a morality mob that knows no boundaries have transformed what started as a way to "connect" into a brutal tool to divide.
Think of the way big news is handled, be it the impeachment hearings, immigration, abortion, gun control or school choice.
For goodness sake, there was a trending Twitter discussion about an interview Hillary Clinton gave in which she said, "People don't hate me; they hate women."
Chew on that one for awhile. (And, uh Ms. Clinton, there are some missed steps in your conclusion there. Signed, most married conservatives in America.)
That said, a happy diversion - a random Twitter connection - arrived this week that made me want to do better.
The biggest news consuming lots of attention and headlines and airtime this week did not originate in Washington but from that tragic helicopter crash in California.
The death of iconic sports superstars - and the loss of lives of young people - may be the most universal unifier among us.
These losses almost always makes us forget human shortcomings. They are gone, after all. Will that change in the age of #MeToo and the era of social media memories and grudges?
I hope not, to be honest.
In fact, a random response from a Tweet I sent earlier from a guy named Eddie made me think.
I sent "Don't ever change coach" to Mississippi State football boss Mike Leach when he posted a sign that said, "I hope when I inevitably choke to death on Gummy Bears, people just say I was killed by bears and leave it at that." Eddie's retweet made me smile, and realize that kindness can live and thrive, even these days.
Eddie's tagline was simple: "Falling short daily, yet thankful for my God's love. Just be nice."
Amen, Eddie.
It's hard to know when a message will reach you or how it will arrive, but the message can't be ignored.
Those messages of positivity and faith have seldom been more needed.
Jay GreesonContact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.