tl;dr: Keep your opinions to yourself

"Dont worry about what the fuck I'm doing. Worry about yourself." - unknown

== Political opinions and why they're dangerous ==

When i was back in High School, like everybody, i was kind of a leftist. I was even a member of a leftwing party and i had a huge Twitter and Facebook follower count. I posted my blind prejudices and i would get a shit ton of validation for it. People would spread my word and i'd become a somewhat recognized voice in my country.

I've changed a lot since then. My political compass today is "neoliberal democrat", "capitalist", or whatever the hell you want to name it. I travelled the whole world, got to know other cultures and viewpoints, and expanded my knowledge and critical thinking through my studies.

I still tend to post my point of view on a number of issues (of course no MRA, that would be political suicide) but since they are more conservative and less dogmatic, people get apeshit over everything i say. I lost most of my followers because they think i am a racist neocon. People who i thought were friends or at least colleagues have turned their backs on me. Everything of what i post gets criticized or downvoted. Some of my recent posts were about how Putin fucks Europe and Syria over. People would shun me for my opinion and chant "death to the USA", like that would be a much more reasonable position. I since deleted my political posts and i stick to avoiding social media at all.

Most of my professors at university are ultra left wing, so telling them my opinion would endanger my marks, thus endanger my professional career.

So, even if you are super educated and have a valid opinion on politics: Keep it to yourself. It's not worth the trouble. People will dislike you and avoid you. You should not hang out on social media anyway, but if you do, post a picture of your dog, of your food or of yourself in the latest Star Wars Movie. Blend in. Observe the 48 laws (Think as you like, but behave like others).

Discussing politics or trying to convince someone of your opinion is a waste of time in most of the cases anyway. Back in BP times i probably thought "that hottie who is constantly stating left wing bullshit in my international relations seminar will indeed jump on my dick as soon as she finds out about my super critical fb posts." Of course, thats complete bullshit.

== Personal opinions and negativity ==

Most People view different opinions on something as negativity, even though it does not necessarily have to do something with it. Having to tell everybody what you think also makes you seem like an arrogant narcissist. So let's not limit that rule when it comes to posting (political) opinions on social media. If your opinion differs largely from what your costudents, friends or even your boss thinks, do not state it. Keep it to yourself and only share it with your inner circle. They will see it as you judging them and nothing is less attractive. You will be the arrogant prick everybody avoids.

The reason i post this is because i myself fail to observe this rule quite regularly. We have a narcissistic urge to show everybody how smart we are, how "out of the box" and different we behave. We think we are better human beings than 99% of what is out there, and we probably are. It does not work. You will come over as a creepy weirdo, as unlikeable and arrogant. You make other people feel uncomfortable and stupid and that is not how they want to feel. The "critical thinkers" were not exactly the ones getting laid in high school, right?

Most universities and schools proclaim they endorse "critical thinking". In fact they are only doing it to the one sort of "critical thinking" that suits them most: Leftism. Everything else will get shut down.

Lessons learned: Critical thinking is probably the most important skill in the 21st century. Just don't do it publicly.

Edit: Formatting, spelling