COMMENTARY: Two social media posts brought out breathtaking nastiness

By Christine Flowers Cagle Cartoons Newspaper Syndicate July 21, 2026 - 9:00 pm Some people say social media is not real, and the type of folks we see living in that world are mutant versions of the actual person. I disagree. I think they are the most authentic versions of the person, including a clear glimpse into their souls, assuming they have them. The ability to hide behind a keyboard, even if you provide your true identity along with a profile photo of you and your cat, makes it that much easier to express an unfiltered view of the world. I experience that all the time, and had a large helping of nauseating authenticity last week. In fact, it was a double whammy. First, I posted a photo of myself standing outside of the Moshannon Detention Center, a few miles west of what is ironical