Dear Social Media Debate Club.

Here are 4 things you should know

While a lot of my readership exists on social media, I do my best to limit my time scrolling through the endless feeds. That’s because I’m the perfect mark for a troll— the kind who thrives on curating rage and division. I can go from calm to completely unhinged in about 4.2 seconds when I read something typed purely to provoke.

For my own mental health, I try to avoid the endless debate clubs that exist online. But lately, I’ve done a poor job steering clear of the relentless virtual trash fires that most comment sections ignite into.

This poem is my response to those who keep trying to bait us into widening the gap between us.

Dear angry social media debate club captain, 

There isn't an easy 
way to say this 
to you but I need you to 
know something.

Four things actually.

The first thing i need you to know is

---

I don't believe that the conversations 
we have with one another 
should have winners or losers 

There is no such thing as victory 
when it comes to relationships 

I no longer believe in being right
or winning the argument

I don't believe in last words
or epic rants or endless virtual debate clubs.  

I don't believe that the
truth needs to be wrapped
in so much barbed wire.

I just don't.

I'm not here to convince you of anything.

That's not my job. 
Even if it was I would be terrible at it.

I barely can convince 
myself to wear pants. 

You want to believe that your world view
has been anointed by God. 

I won't stop you.

Enjoy your certainty.

I'll be swimming in the sun soaked waters of
the swirling grey.

The second thing is

---

(and I know you are really going to hate this) 

I believe that our
hearts are lightly
poached eggs with
a runny yolk.

Sometimes I get my heart 
mixed up in the toast
and the undercooked 
ranch potatoes 
and that’s totally okay 

I’m at home 
on my messy
plate.

I know my lack
of order disgusts
you. 

I know you wish I 
wouldn’t be so 
desperately unconcerned
with arguing. 

I know you wish I would
just see things your way.

I can’t.

Everything is just to
damn chaotic for me 
 to understand it. 

It’s all too much of 
a casserole for me to
separate fact from fiction.

I love how disorderly 
and mysterious life is. 

While 
you love the starchy feel 
that you get wearing your
freshly pressed 
pants of your convictions.

Your vocation
apparently is to brand us
all like cattle with
your opinions that you
have made into gospel.

To conform us
to moo at the moon
in the same
pitch and tempo
as you do. 

You seem hell bent on
casting us in the hard
concrete of your beliefs. 

Sorry but none of that work for me. 

I was made 
to be seduced
by empathy

- feel free to argue with everyone until the dust
comes to reclaim you.

I am more about respite
than I am about respect.

We would make terrible roommates.

The third thing is

---

I don't mind losing
to you

I don't mind giving you
the trophy.

You earned it.

You keep clearing the same
weeds that I press my ears to

I just want to hear
their secrets within 
the same dandelion roots
that you're trying to dig up

The fourth thing is

---

I believe that deep within
the fault line that exists
between us is a river of 
flowing diamonds.

These diamonds are 
our differences that
you're so desperate to 
excavate to make
a necklace out of.

Go right ahead.

You can mine for
all that separates us.

You can frack for all of our 
fossilized contradictions until the Earth
fractures into a mosaic.

I don't care.

I’m not interested
in division. 

I’m only interested
in the songs I keep
hearing coming from
behind the clouds
that keep inviting me
into wonder. 

So, please keep waging
your war for being right.

I won’t interfere with your certainty. 

I'll just be under the tree
in yard counting the
birds while you 
are digging in a 
tomb of worms

love, 
me

~ john roedel (johnroedel.com)

---

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There is magic that happens when we sit down and write next to other open-hearted humans in a safe space.

We dig deeper. We find new words. We roam into uncharted territory.

Come write and explore your heart with me this April in the mystical beauty of the Southwest to share the story that only you can tell.

I so excited that the HeartWrite Retreat is happening at the Madeline Island School of the Arts in magical Santa Fe!

In this energizing experience, we’ll dive deep into journaling, group sharing, creative exercises, movement, and hands-on activities—all designed to help you write fearlessly, with no concern for what the world might think.

I will be sharing my poetry, humor and story as I gently help you explore the unmapped lands of your own wild heart.

Curious for more details? Just click the link below.