Seven ways to be an untoxic Christian during a toxic presidential campaign

6. Consider giving private feedback

I respond very differently when people write me in private to share feedback than when they say you idiot on my timeline. For whatever reason, I feel honored that people have “taken the time” to write me privately even if it takes them exactly the same amount of time to say something publicly. It shows respect, which gives you a lot more credibility if you need to say something critical. Off the record, we discover that people are actually not the hardened ideologues they present themselves to be in public. There are certainly valid reasons to respond publicly as an act of solidarity when people are causing harm with their words. But if we’re actually seeking to influence someone else, private communication is a much more effective means of doing that.