I’ll take the sticks and stones, thank you very much
Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words will never hurt me.
Who the hell wrote that?
Words are a commodity - and on the internet, like in real life, words can be worth more than gold or less than the paper they’re printed on - or the screen on which they are viewed.
Unlike bumps and bruises acquired through a physical brawl, when you throw your words around the wounds sometimes fester, never healing.
Unlike letters written and never mailed, lectures mentally drafted but never spoken, diatribes altered before they leave your lips - on the internet there are no take-backsies. Because even if you delete a post — someone may have cut and pasted it. Because Tweets are forever embedded in the memory of Twitter and all your followers. And emails are always somewhere in the deep dark recesses of your recycle bin.
Name calling is childish — but to do it online is not childish - it’s stupid. Not only do you see your words in front of you - and perhaps revel in their nastiness - but lots of other people see them too - even if you don’t intend it. People forward emails and tweets all the time. You can even cut and paste miles of Instant Messages.
So be careful, folks - and do what you teach your children - if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
I know there’s an internet brew-ha-ha going on right now. A he said/she said situation that is embarrassing at its best and horrifying at its worst. I won’t link to it because I believe the only reason these things live and breathe is because they get attention.
I won’t feed the monster.
Frankly, I’d rather be hit with sticks.
By Antique Mommy on Jun 22, 2009
Words of wisdom there sister. I would only add to that to make use of the Drafts folder and a 24-hour incubation period before hitting send. Having said that, even when one chooses ones words carefully and diplomatically, there is still a high likelihood they will be misinterpreted and misunderstood.
The use of inflammatory and unchecked language is one of the most frustrating things to me in our current political climate. For me, if the language you use is inflammatory, your message is automatically invalid and not credible.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
@Antique Mommy,
I am there with you. We are not perfect, and that’s a blanket statement, so when we do make mistakes it behooves us to be forgiving. It’s so simple - two wrongs don’t make a right.
xo
Amy
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By Janet on Jun 22, 2009
I’m pretty sure I know what you’re referring to and assuming I’m on target, I have to say, it was awful to watch something like that snowball out of control so quickly. I wish it would just go away…for all parties concerned. One thing the internet has taught me after 15 years online is cool off before you type/hit send/hit publish etc.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
@Janet,
You’re absolutely right - you can’t take it back on the internet. Come to think of it, one of my Chicago Trib pieces was about this, because I’d sent an email intended to my BFF to my editor. Luckily it was a NICE email. Can you imagine if it wasn’t? That would have been a short career, lol! I also think people screw themselves over thinking they are above repercussions. He/she can’t touch me because, well, I’m…me. Sad.
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By angie on Jun 22, 2009
I’m out of the loop as usual, but I hope it goes away quickly with the least amount of damage.
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By amy on Jun 23, 2009
I am out of the loop usually,but a pal of mine filled me in, sent me some links, and honestly–I felt ill upon reading/ viewing them.
I am so sorry for every party involved when this kind of thing happens–
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 am
@amy,
It’s awful - but I dare say - self-perpetuated. That’s why I stay out of it.
thanks for stopping by, amy!!
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By Leslie on Jun 24, 2009
Cyberspace can turn into reality. Do something inflamatory and vulgar on line with the thought it’s anonymous and with a couple of keystrokes and a Google search the enraged party could be knocking on your door (or worse). Are people that hungry for attention that they put themselves and their families at risk?
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
June 24th, 2009 at 9:24 am
@Leslie,
You know I’m with you on this 100%.
It baffles me.
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