Now, however, we live in a world of “social noise.” Talk radio, and television programs like “The View” on ABC – America’s most watched daytime talk show, and “The Five” on Fox, a roundtable discussion on current issues, have such a following! All of this is what I call “social noise.” It is nothing more than giving someone’s opinion a microphone! How has it become so ingrained in our culture to “sound off” about everything we hear about in the news? Talk radio stations have some version of a “talk back mic” where listeners can anonymously spout off about anything or “call in” a comment.
With the development of the internet in the 1990’s, people received and forwarded all kinds of memes, and images with captions, etc., some of which expressed dislike and ridicule of others. With the advent of social media, people were then encouraged to “like” or “dislike” anything and everything, as though their opinion mattered. Then came smartphones and soon Twitter (now “X”), Instagram and other platforms that multiplied the practice of commenting on everything. Unfortunately, this has led to some truly vile and nasty behavior in our culture. Opinions do not matter, but when social media racks up a pile of “dislikes” along with nasty comments, it can be devastating. Talk about social noise!
Most recently, people have asked me what I think about the exchange going on between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV. My first response is, “Why do you ask?” After hearing their answer, I simply say, “My opinion doesn’t matter.” Truly, to express an opinion would be as an outsider looking in on something without having the whole picture. What I think about what the secular media presents, often in sound bites, in an exchange between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV, truly doesn’t matter, so why add to the noise? To comment would only fan the flame stirring up more opinions – furthering the damage to the respect we owe to both President and Pope. Though my opinion doesn’t matter, offering comment would further tear at the dignity of both as human people. In my opinion, this social noise should cease!
Imagine, for example, two men working on an engine in a garage. The garage has a small window and through the window an outsider sees them at the moment when they are taking a break and enjoying a beverage. Later someone asks the outsider what he thought these two guys were doing in the garage. The view through the window did not allow the outsider to see what they were working on, just that they were in the corner drinking something (lemonade) out of a can. So, in the opinion of the outsider, they were two alcoholics hitting the ‘sauce’ early and avoiding their spouses who would tear into them if they saw it. Really? Well, that’s what can easily be concluded without knowing the whole picture. At best this is social noise, but far worse it is damaging gossip and truly unjust.
We might be surprised to discover how much conversation around us is simply that of opinion, or the opinion about someone else’s opinion. People often speculate about why something happened or how it came about. Their opinions are frequently based on the biases they hold about a person’s race, ethnic background, the neighborhood where they live, or a host of other categories in which they pigeonhole people. Not only does my opinion not matter, it needs to be checked starting with my own interior attitude and disposition about others. Keeping my opinion to myself is best, but even then, I need to stop letting these thoughts dominate my interior disposition about others.
The point here is that we need to counter “social noise” with “social silence” when it comes to our opinions. The best way to turn the table on the noise of social opinion is to say little, or to point out the good we see around us. Accent the positive, as the phrase goes. Most of the time, social noise is derogatory, showing a critical or disrespectful attitude. Certainly, no one is perfect. But to be critical or, in this day and age, even hateful toward others or about others, is unchristian behavior. After all, Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Choosing social silence will become easier once we practice interior silence, a much more difficult spiritual undertaking. This is the daily discipline of loving others and praying for them. The spiritual works of mercy ask us: to admonish the sinner, to instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the sorrowful, to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive all injuries and to pray for the living and the dead. Indeed, our world needs the works of mercy to counter the social noise of our time. If we all practiced these wise counsels, we could start a movement of conversion and renewal in our world, but it begins with each of us, personally.
Yes, it is a noisy world, yet there is so much good all around us. The less we contribute to “social noise” and the more we seek to build up our neighbors, friends and coworkers through the spiritual works of mercy, the more we can heal the culture and flourish in it. In truth and humility, most of the time our opinions don’t really matter. Let us pray for the grace to live like we believe that.
