I’ve talked over the years about why we are lucky to live in the country we do. Our weather can kick us in the pants now and then and our governments can drive us up the wall but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Anyone who does should pack up and move to that anywhere else. Freedom of speech is one great reason we love Canada. We can say what we want in public short of out and out hate speech without fear of being thrown in jail or killed. Of course it means we have to put up with listening to some pretty silly stuff, not just from politicians who do spout their fair share of nonsense, but also from the mouths of people who use social media to spout their BS. When I have a quiet minute when I don’t have something more important to do, which is most of the time, I log in to Facebook and Twitter to see what’s circulating. I never post comments when I see stupid posts that just beg a rebuttal even though I’m tempted. You can never win in a discussion with an ill-informed or bigoted person. Besides, I believe in the old saying: never fight with a pig because you’ll both get dirty and the pig will like it. The dark side of social media is just something we have to put up with because technology allows anyone to broadcast their views. However, you don’t have to read or like them and there is also a sunny side with plenty of well-meaning, normal people who use social media to connect and communicate with far-flung family and friends. Now, if we could just get around those commercial messages.

That’s Coffeetalk. I’m Vic Dubois.