Friday, September 28, 2012

Poisonous Words

I've been lucky in that I've never had a problem with trolls on my blog, so please don't think I'm pointing fingers at any of you. However, the casual way that people use words to injure others in all forms of social media bothers me. A difference of opinion on religion or politics, sports, or even a book review on Goodreads makes it okay to attack someone, whether you know them or not.

I don't think so.

A story I read today made me wonder if part of the problem could simply be that people (other than the trolls) aren't aware of what they're doing. Being right or being funny (in that moment) takes precedence over the other person's feelings. In the story I read, Balpreet Kaur (the victim) responded with an explanation of her religious beliefs that garnered an apology. Understanding and goodwill prevailed. Kaur went on to state: "I do not think explaining myself and the way I am is a waste of energy because storytelling in itself is a way to fight the apathy in this world." Explaining leads to understanding. Both require more time and thought than it takes to mock or attack someone who is different than us, but fighting apathy and poison is worth the effort.

This isn't a problem that we can solve by turning off our computers. The poison spills over into our schools and our interactions with others. So, the next time you vehemently disagree with someone (whether you're interacting in person or over the internet), stop to ask yourself whether being right is more important than understanding where the other person is coming from.

I will make more of an effort. 

10 comments:

  1. So true Myrna. It's sad to see some of what goes on in social media or the words we say. I'm trying to watch what I say too.

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  2. Agreed. Words are so powerful, use them well.

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  3. I love how the woman in the photograph turned a negative, destructive situation into a positive, constructive one. Makes me want to write about a Sikh character...

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    1. I know! It certainly made me want to know more about their faith.

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  4. Wow, what a crazy story! I am so in awe of that woman's patience and forgiving spirit. A lot to learn from this. Thanks for posting, Myrna. :D

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  5. Thank you for sharing this. I just finished reading Wonder by RJ Palacio, so I'm especially in the mood to appreciate your message.

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    1. I've been meaning to read that one. Thanks for the reminder!

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  6. Balpreet's response blew me away. Like others, it made me want to know more about Sikhs.

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  7. I hadn't heard about this, Myrna. So thanks for calling it to our attention. Balpreet Kaur is a wonderful role model and I'm glad that so many people apologized to her on Reddit. But it never should have happened in the first place. And that's what scary about social media -- it's too easy for anonymous people to post nasty things without thinking it through (look at the Goodreads controversy -- both sides did some dreadful things). Taking someone's photo without their permission and posting it online is stepping over the privacy boundary. But then making fun of them is even worse. She handled it all beautifully.

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