There used to be a thing called a, “comment card” that you could find at some businesses. If you had a thought about your experience at a restaurant (for example), you could write that thought on the comment card. Whether you were complaining or complimenting, the comment card was a way to share your thoughts.

Recently, as I exited a public restroom, I discovered an updated version of the comment card. It was a touch-screen displaying two emojis, one happy and one sad. Above the emojis was an invitation to, “Rate your restroom experience.”

Now, I’m not a guy who thinks the daily events of my life are worthy of anyone else’s attention. I don’t take pictures of my lunch. I don’t post my bible study readings. I had never felt the need to rate my bathroom experiences; until I saw that touch-screen. And then, I was indignant.

I do not appreciate the presumption that my bathroom experience can be adequately described with either a smiley or frowny face. My toilet experience is a spectrum full of nuance. The workings of my bladder and bowels do not fit your narrow stereotypes.

My experience is affected by countless variables. I consider everything from the softness of the toilet paper to the color of the urinal cakes. I concern myself with the reflectiveness of the mirror, the amount of graffiti on the wall, the temperature and humidity of the room, and of course the aroma. It is an insult to believe my restroom analysis can be expressed by clicking an emoji.

Then I realized that I was misunderstanding the purpose of the touch-screen. It wasn’t actually a comment card. It was just a “feelings button.” There is a difference between commenting and reacting. Reacting requires no thought. It’s mere impulse. Reacting is primal instinct. It comes from the lizard brain. Reaction is reflex. It’s what causes your leg to twitch when the doctor hits your knee with a mallet. It’s what causes road rage and most social media engagement.

You’ve been conditioned by social media to think reacting is the same as commenting. You believe a laughing emoji is equivalent to thoughtful a disagreement. In your mind, an angry emoji is a powerful rebuttal. Social media has taught you to be thoughtless. You don’t need a whole comment card to express simple feelings.

Reflexes are good when you need to dodge a falling piano or yank your hand out of a fire. But reflexes are NOT the best way to respond to commentary. Your first reaction to a statement should not be your ONLY reaction. Your feelings can’t be trusted to tell you the truth. And the truth is not changed (even a little bit) by your emotional reaction to it.

If this makes any sense to you, feel free to leave an emoji that isn’t a happy or frowny face in the comments.

“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” (Proverbs 12:16)