Thursday, April 23, 2020 –
There does not seem to be any rational thought left in people. The idea of sitting down with someone over a beer or cup of coffee and discussing your differences is long gone. Gone too are the days of a handshake and amicable parting of ways.
Instead, we now get knee-jerk emotional over every…little…thing.
We cannot calmly state our opinions or (gasp!) use facts to back up our point of view. Rather, we play a dastardly hand of “that hurt my feelings!” For whatever reason (or lack there of) we have allowed this emotional “trump card” to become the be-all, end-all of a conversation; the immediate shut-down of opposing viewpoints.
Moreover, it has become customary to publicly shame and dox anyone who disagrees with us.
We fail to acknowledge that most people disagree with us, and that isn’t a bad thing. In fact, I am strong in my Catholic faith today because someone disagreed with me, challenged me to learn more, and ultimately defend my beliefs.
There have been times I was right. There have also been times I was wrong. The times I have been wrong have proven to be the most fruitful in my personal and spiritual growth. I have had to put my big girl pants on, swallow my pride, and learn some hard truths. I am a better, stronger, more knowledgeable person for having gone through those times!
Sadly, in today’s world, if any of us hold the “wrong” opinions and facts, according to some mythical social (non)norm, we must submit to the terrifying and unhinged public shaming for whatever perceived sins we may or may not have committed.
I prefer to have my sins forgiven in the solitude and inviolability of the Sacrament of Penance, not displayed on the town bulletin board. I also prefer to not be publicly berated for not having whatever socially acceptable opinion is fashionable today.
And there is the crux: viewpoints change. What is socially acceptable now has not always been so. Truths do not change, but opinions change often. Unfortunately, public perception of truth changes even more often than opinions.
Everyone should ask themselves a few questions before they get their knickers in a bunch:
- If you are willing to publicly post defamatory information about someone else, are you also willing to have defamatory information about you posted?
- If you are willing to post someone’s personal information, are you also willing to have your personal information posted online?
- If you are willing to lambast someone for their views, are you willing to be lambasted for your views?
- If you are willing to socially ostracize someone for their views, are you willing to be socially ostracized for your views?
- Finally, are you willing to fight for the truth, even if it means you might fall out of favor with the internet, or even if it means you might put your personal information—or even your life—at risk?
Basically, we should all be following the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have done unto you. Of, if you prefer, the more modern, technological version: don’t post something about someone if you don’t want that same information posted about you!
Please, let’s all stop hiding behind our keyboards and actually engage in a rational conversation. You might learn a thing or two from someone you disagree with.
Saint Isidore of Seville, pray for us!
