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By Scott Mims | Community Columnist

There is one thing I see people trying to accomplish over and over again, whether in real life, social media or some other digital type of communication—and that is trying to change people’s minds.

Whether it’s about politics, the interpretation of religious texts, sports or even something as trivial as pizza toppings, someone is always trying to convince someone else that their way is the best or correct way. But have you ever noticed that this almost never works?

It has been proven time and time again that people rarely ever change their minds, even when presented with contradictory evidence that challenges a long-held idea. Take any conspiracy theory, even the goofiest one you can imagine, and try to show concrete proof to a dedicated follower of said theory…good luck with that.

I think we could avoid a lot of unnecessary arguments if people would stop trying to change the beliefs and opinions of others through a Facebook comment or a passing remark. It isn’t going to happen. I am speaking from experience—there was a time when I couldn’t resist sharing my “wisdom” by commenting on someone’s post. Even though I thought I was being reasonable and constructive, most of the replies would be argumentative at best or immature at worst—imagine all the laughing emojis you see on serious posts and comments in just one day.

I’m not saying to never share your opinion or defend your stance on something that’s important to you. But perhaps this should not be attempted in the context of a social media comment or in a passing encounter with someone you will never see again. There is a right way to do it. Let your life speak to what you believe through consistent behaviors and choices. Don’t invite an argument, and if someone tries to start one with you, don’t add fuel to their fire by taking the bait.

On a final note, I will add that if you simply can’t avoid getting into arguments on social media, perhaps it’s time to disconnect for a few days—or even hit the “unfriend” button, if someone keeps pushing your buttons.