6 tips for surviving — and winning — political arguments on Facebook

Skye Gould

GIF by Skye Gould/Tech Insider

The US is nearing the presidential election, which means Facebook posts (and thus arguments) about Trump and Hillary are inevitable.

But, judging by our newsfeeds, these political debates don't usually go down gracefully.

Online-etiquette expert Daniel Post Senning is here to help us out. He's the author of "Manners in a Digital World," a guide for being polite in the 21st century.

Tech Insider asked him for advice about how to discuss politics online, and he gave us a few tips. Keep scrolling to check them out.

First, decide if it's worth it.

Before you post or comment, you should weigh the importance of actually having the discussion, Post Senning says. In the heat of the moment, some discussions can seem more important than they actually are.

"Some issues are life and death," he says. "Ask yourself, is the discussion itself as important? Is it really going to improve the issue?"

Go in with a clear goal or outcome about what you're trying to gain from the conversation, he adds. If you're just looking to troll or make a personal attack, refrain from posting. But if your intention is to have a civil discussion, you should engage. 

Avoid political discussion on holidays.

There's a long-standing etiquette rule that you shouldn't talk about politics at the dinner table — and especially during holiday get-togethers with the family.

Post Senning says the same guideline applies online. 

If you want to post a political article, wait a day. Most people won't be open to having civil discussions about uncomfortable topics on holidays, he says.

Show respect.

One of the most important rules is: Don't make things personal.

"Don't question someone's intelligence or integrity," Post Senning says. "Make your argument about the situation or issue, not the person you're talking to."

If you want to survive and win a political argument on Facebook, it's best to separate the person from the politics.