When "Next Door" Is Too Close By Half!!

I recently had the questionable pleasure of entering into a dialogue with several people (a man from Brant Hills and a woman from Headon Forest) on the topic of the abuses to which the Canadian flag is put by those who believe that it is a permissible form of expression to have a prominent "F**K Trudeau" sign on their truck.

The gentleman insisted that it was a sign of those patriots who were standing up for their rights (spelled "rites") and that they were entitled to their opinion (spelled "opinoin"). I patiently pointed out that his thinking, like his spelling, was at a Grade 3 level and that he should stop embarassing himself.

That reply brought the wrath of Headon Forest lady who claimed that "men" were more interested in standing up to tyranny than in the particulars of grammar and expression. Well, having my manhood challenged was just too much so I responded with - "well then I will get a "F**K Trudeau" sign for my tricycle and become a "real man". I also called her a "maroon" but that's beside the point.

So, where am I going with this? Nowhere really - certainly not back to Next Door. I have since deactivated my account. Both of the individuals whom I reference above live within a mile or two of me but the ideological distance - the thought gap - is beyond measure. These are my physical neighbours and I despair that we share the same universe. How blatant ignorance, prejudice and bigotry can not only exist but find frequent expression here saddens me.

Parenthetically, the social media platform, Next Door, is a mixed blessing at best. At its best, it provides quick communication and discourse amongst those who share the same neighbourhoods. It is chatty, busy and rather inane. At its worst, it can be used as a vehicle for intolerance, harassment and vigilantism. In my view, it has outlived its utility.