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Words Have Meaning
A couple maxims from my upbringing have sprung forth tonight:
1- If you have nothing good to say about someone, say nothing.
2- Never say something behind someone's back that you would not say to their face.
It seems that I have broken one of these rules. I made a comment that hurt someone's feelings, someone that I care about very deeply.
Personally, I am a jokester. Some of my jokes are crude, rude, or filled with dark humor that nobody but me understands.
This brings me to my point. I firmly believe that every action, regardless of intention, will elicit a reaction. Perhaps a positive action will create a positive reaction, as we all hope. But sometimes a positive reaction to some will cause a negative reaction to others.
In the world of blogs and emails and chat rooms, things can be taken the wrong way. Words without human emotion and expression can easily be mistaken as a slight. So I urge my fellow bloggers to take a step back before clicking the send button. To think about how others may be affected by the words you have written.
Yes, I am an advocate of unadulterated free speech. Yes, I will likely break this rule from time to time. But if we all keep the feelings of others in our minds before pointing and clicking, perhaps the level of discourse will improve, and good feelings preserved.
1- If you have nothing good to say about someone, say nothing.
2- Never say something behind someone's back that you would not say to their face.
It seems that I have broken one of these rules. I made a comment that hurt someone's feelings, someone that I care about very deeply.
Personally, I am a jokester. Some of my jokes are crude, rude, or filled with dark humor that nobody but me understands.
This brings me to my point. I firmly believe that every action, regardless of intention, will elicit a reaction. Perhaps a positive action will create a positive reaction, as we all hope. But sometimes a positive reaction to some will cause a negative reaction to others.
In the world of blogs and emails and chat rooms, things can be taken the wrong way. Words without human emotion and expression can easily be mistaken as a slight. So I urge my fellow bloggers to take a step back before clicking the send button. To think about how others may be affected by the words you have written.
Yes, I am an advocate of unadulterated free speech. Yes, I will likely break this rule from time to time. But if we all keep the feelings of others in our minds before pointing and clicking, perhaps the level of discourse will improve, and good feelings preserved.
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I have no clue as to what prompted this post, but absolutely endorse and support the sentiment.
It's obvious you do try to practice what you are 'preaching' here and we all need to take it to heart too.
Blessings and much appreciated.
Rec'd.
August 26, 2009 1:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know what prompted this either, but speaking as one who has been taken, (from my perspective), the wrong way more than I would hope, (my astrologer friend says it's because my Mercury is in Pisces), I support the sentiment of this blog.
August 26, 2009 2:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently, my mercury has been found in fish, which may be why I sometimes get the feeling of being underwater. :-)
Me third on I don't know what prompted this, but I too goofed one time when I wasn't thinking. I was ever so grateful for the impulse of the offended person to give me the benefit of the doubt first, and also for the friend that told me about it. And I do try to think before clicking send, but it still scares me that I won't catch something stooopid first.
August 26, 2009 8:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for sharing this - it is deeply appreciated. It takes a big man to admit when he has made a mistake and to me, you are a big and good man. Your friend.........
August 26, 2009 8:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I, too, forget sometimes to toss in the LOL or :-) when I'm attempting snark (I'm really not very good at it.) It is so true that with this medium, lacking the facial features and/or tone of voice, comments can easily be misinterpreted.
Thanks for the reminder.
Glad to see all is forgiven. Don't like to have friends at odds...
August 26, 2009 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the light of currrent events, I can't help mentioning an incident in the U.S. Senate some years ago involving two Senators - the liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy and the conservative Republican Orrin Hatch. They were close personal friends - a tribute to Kennedy's engaging manner, his sense of humor, and his respect for political adversaries. They also engaged in many heated Senate debates. During one of these, Hatch responded to a Kennedy statement by proclaiming, "If anyone here believes that, there's a bridge at Chappaquidick that I want to sell you!"
Within a day, Hatch publicly apologized to Kennedy. Their friendship never faltered, and today, Hatch appeared in media outlets paying tribute to his late friend.
August 26, 2009 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh I screw up sometimes. Make a joke under a comment and hurt someone's feelings.
People who do not like me, well they stopped commenting on my posts or under my comments anyway.
But I tell you what. I like this post very much. Yes. We must apologize from time to time.
Very good.
August 26, 2009 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink