Public vs Private Thought

An EMT made a disparaging remark about Charlie Kirk after his shooting and a conservative Christian--a total stranger --took upon himself to locate where she worked and get her fired. She made an unkind remark about someone’s death and he took it personally enough to wreck her career. Neither should have done that and for what the purpose?

The internet allows people to express private thoughts they would never say out loud. People offer an unsolicited opinion, spout whatever justification they have, and genuinely think they’re a good person because they did it. No harm for the stone thrower and they never see the effect it has on the victim so it goes on.

Some people will say outrageous things under their real names because they know, chances are, the person they’re abusing won’t come after them, but when they do, like the cited example, it’s ugly for everyone involved.

The internet encourages this kind of behavior and it needs to stop if we want to maintain a healthy society. People need to be well mannered, mature adults in public. People need to be safe expressing their views without threat of violence or being outcast. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to agree to it. We have become a nation where differences of opinion to any given narrative is unforgivable. The division this creates is dangerous to democracy and our mental well being. Be kind, it cost nothing and pays in good karma. Ignore it, most of the time it’s just rage bait to get you riled up anyway.

Miss Manners tried to teach us. “One of the biggest sorrows in America is that people want to retaliate against rudeness with rudeness. One of my main missions is to say no, there is no excuse for rudeness.” She’s right and this needs to be a commandment-- not just with real life but on the internet. The next time you rush to the keyboard to express disapproval or outrage, ask yourself, would you want someone to say that to your face?