Harger: Social media is about to become a political battlefield with looming election

This is it. The last week before things start to ramp up and get even more uncomfortable.

Next Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, marks the beginning of a significant shift. It’s the day when the casual voters — yes, the ones more interested in Pumpkin Spice Lattes than politics — finally start paying attention to the upcoming election. These are the folks who’ve been blissfully detached, enjoying their summer without a care for campaign trails or policy debates. But now, like it or not, they’re about to dive into the fray.

More on Pumpkin Spice Lattes: Starbucks ushers in fall early with the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte

If you’re a regular MyNorthwest reader or KIRO Newsradio listener, you’re probably already in the loop. You know the candidates, the issues and the stakes. But now, you’re about to be joined by the broader public, and you know what that means: Social media is about to become a battlefield.

Your friends, neighbors and even Aunt Irma with her famous casserole recipes will suddenly have a lot to say about politics. And let’s be honest, some of those opinions are going to make you want to scream. You’ll see fake news spreading like wildfire, bizarre conclusions that defy logic and arguments that will make you question whether we all live on the same planet. Your faith in humanity is about to be tested daily, if not hourly.

And yet, here’s the crux of the matter: People you disagree with may be wrong, but that doesn’t make them bad people. Over the past few election cycles, we’ve seen a dangerous trend. Some Democrats have become convinced that MAGA supporters are not just mistaken, but stupid, if not outright evil. On the flip side, some Republicans have started to view Democrats as literally, not figuratively, demonic in their beliefs.

Dave Ross: How is censorship possible anymore?

Is this really where we are? Is this the state of political discourse in our country? The other side isn’t just an opponent to be debated — they’re an enemy to be vanquished? If so, that’s a scary place to be.

As we head into what’s sure to be a heated election season, maybe we can try something different. Instead of writing off the person you disagree with as stupid, try this: Consider that they hold one particular belief that you find foolish. They’re still good people. They don’t share your views, but that doesn’t make them evil. It just makes them … different. They’re not your enemies; they’re just regular folks with a different perspective.

Now, I won’t sugarcoat it — this isn’t going to be easy. This election season is shaping up to be more contentious than ever. People are going to be at each other’s throats, and patience will be in short supply. But maybe, just maybe, if we can turn the temperature down just a notch this year, we might be able to have conversations that are more constructive and less destructive to the fabric of our country.

More on the upcoming election: Conservative commentator Michael Medved says he’ll likely vote for VP Harris

Because let’s face it. We all care about this nation. We all want what’s best for it, even if we don’t always agree on what that looks like. If we can remember that, we might just get through this election season without tearing each other apart.

So take a deep breath, brace yourself for the weeks ahead and remember, at the end of the day, we’re all in this together, even when it feels like we couldn’t be further apart. Let’s try to keep that in mind as we navigate the coming political storm. After all, this country we love deserves no less.

Charlie Harger is the News Director for MyNorthwest.com and KIRO Newsradio

More from Charlie Harger: Should Seattle say “adios” to the South Lake Union streetcar?

Follow @https://twitter.com/kirocharlie