Statuses? Stati? What’s the plural of status? Whatever the case, political opinions are spilling over onto Facebook, infiltrating News Feeds and walls alike. So why are opinions no longer being expressed through little bubbles on ballots first, but rather, put on the Internet for the world to see?

You got me. Although in a way politically informed friends can point out newfound perspectives on certain issues, how many of your Facebook friends are actually qualified as “informed”?
But let’s just play with the idea that you found one: There’s a pretty low chance that they are not biased. So most people are really spewing out the half-chewed story when they ought to be digesting information, either way, the opinions are plentiful and my tolerance, like that of many others, is wearing thin.

Admittedly, a half-baked idea is better than no idea at all: Facebook is a wonderful way to express ideas and thoughts. It’s the fighting that gets me. Sometimes, people have to come to an understanding that there won’t be an understanding, but people often skip that step, closed off to any idea that may reshape their own.

Politics can be a tricky subject, meaning different things for different people, being shaped by unique experiences and various influences. I’ve heard from many a college student that they will simply not vote because they “don’t like both candidates.” And hey, that’s a legitimate idea! But with this action comes a host of tiny little disclaimers and side effects, the main one being that you may not complain when someone, inevitably, is elected. Not only that, but there are other things on the ballot to consider – proposals, and other presidential candidates who are not Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Voting is not like it is often portrayed in the heads of citizens: Two boxes with names above them with a only a check-mark needed.

Going back to the now correlating topics of social media and politics, there are ways around it, if you choose not to be informed. Press the “Skip Ad” button on Youtube, or exit out of the political campaign pop-ups. There is even a download for Google Chrome that blocks all political statuses on Facebook, showing instead cat pictures. And who doesn’t want to see cat pictures? (Maybe I’m alone in that, but hopefully not). Whatever confusing route you decide to take, the date of November sixth should be important in one way or another.

On that day, Jacob Schick was granted a patent for the electric shaver, perfectly ironic for No-Shave November, and Mark Messier scored his 500th National Hockey League goal.

Also, in a cheesy and overstated kind of way, you could change history with your vote.

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