My first actual blog-type entry. I, as many, keep a personal diary offline that I try to write in at least a sentence or two at night. I am not sure what I hope to accomplish with that, perhaps something to keep my thoughts alive. This is the first of doing something of the sort in a public area.
I have not always been so open to 'speaking' in a public venue. In fact before I joined Elliquiy even an email exchange was something not heard of. I communicated in 'official' capacities in most places, and otherwise left the 'chatting' to others. I am not against chatting, never have been, but I have always just been of the mindset that my thoughts were simply random thoughts that no one would have any interest in. I might still be correct on that assumption.
However, joining Elliquiy I have found a venue where even if my thoughts are not all that interesting to people, they are not judged or mocked, or ridiculed. Not saying that they would have been elsewhere, but in this community I have found many like-minded individuals, as well as eloquent people who know how to communicate their disagreements.
That brings me to my thoughts for now. How people treat each other online. Some are the sparkling examples of a tenet I enjoy "If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, then he is indeed a citizen of the world." Yet others might forget that voice inflections do not carry well over the Internet, or perhaps they forget that behind these names are real human beings.
I am wondering why suddenly there is an outpouring of ridicule -everywhere-, ridicule of beliefs, ridicule of opinions, and ridicule of lifestyles. If one has faith in religion, it is quite often there will be at least one person, often times more, who will find it their personal mission to tell that believer that they are stupid or gullible to believe. I am not religious myself, but I still think that it is every person’s right to feel and believe what he or she will. Whatever gives them peace of mind.
This is also carried over into political beliefs, or simply opinions on what type food tastes the best. Are we now so worried about being right that it does not matter it might hurt or offend someone? Yes, political correctness can be a bit extreme, but common courtesy is nice.
Debate, state your opinion, but judge your words, weigh them carefully. Particularly when one is discussing such heated topics as politics, religion and/or relationship advice. This is, of course, just my opinion on how things should be.