The term “snowflake” has been floating around lately to refer to someone who is easily irritated, sensitive, or challenged by being exposed to different views or reacting irrationally because of their impulsive emotions. Snowflakes are seldom if ever, tested because they live in an echo chamber, surrounding themselves only with people who think like them. 

People that refuse to migrate from homogeneous environments have difficulty interacting with people from different backgrounds and mindsets. This is problematic because a critical component of a free, flourishing society is the exchange of ideas, discussions, and opinions without suffering any repercussion. While physical snowflakes melt, human snowflakes figuratively melt regarding their emotional instability and weakness. Even though the term “snowflake” is usually used in the mainstream media to mock left-wing individuals, there are “snowflakes” on both sides of the aisle. Both, the left and the right, are easily “triggered” when someone holds a different opinion on their sensitive subject.

There are countless videos and articles on the internet of “liberals being triggered” by minor acts, such as shutting down (or attempting to) events because they disagree with the speaker. When liberals disagree with the speaker, they claim the speaker is spewing “hate speech” or threatening the campus’ environment. 

Speakers like Ben Shapiro or Lauren Southern are the ones that usually generate commotion around more liberal environments such as college campuses. However, many on the right are just as guilty of being “triggered.” Last February, conservatives started a #BoycottStarbucks trend because Starbucks released a company plan to hire 10,000 refugees within the next five years after President Trump’s executive order on refugees. Conservatives recently revived the same spirit with the #BoycottNFL movement that began after players began to peacefully kneel during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and lack of police accountability. 

The latest move by triggered conservatives is smashing Keurig coffee makers. The reason why conservatives have taken to demolishing their Keurigs is that the company decided to stop advertising on “Hannity” after Sean Hannity continued to support Roy Moore in spite of allegations that he had sexual intercourse with a minor in the 1970’s and pursued high school girls. 

After Keurig pulled their ads from “Hannity,” Sean Hannity has been encouraging his supports to record themselves smashing their Keurigs and sharing it online to generate a boycott. Not only is this behavior childish and counterproductive, but it is also ironic. 

Conservatives are advocates of freedom of association, which is who you choose to do business with (thus some advocating for the repeal of federal policies like the Civil Rights Act of 1964). It is ironic to see conservatives react like this when companies like Keurig voluntarily decide to withdraw their business or end a contract. The worst part is that Keurig had a valid reason to respond like this, it wasn’t a random, unjustifiable reason. When a TV host continues to support, rather than condemn, a Senate candidate that has been accused of sexual assault it is the proper response to retrieve any business you have with them. 

As advocates of freedom of association and the free market, conservatives should have a better response when situations like these arise. Let the market speak for itself and understand why the demand for your product or service has decreased, rather than blatantly revolting like children. There will always be “snowflakes” on those who represent Republicans and those who serve Democrats. Under such polarized political climates, like the one we’re in right now, it is crucial to take George Washington’s advice and beware of hyper-partisanship and divisiveness between major political parties. There will always be something that we won’t want to hear, but the best way to debunk those arguments or opinions is by using rationality, facts, and data rather than yelling louder.