Ok, so this topic is interesting to me right now and I've got nothing but time on my hands being out of a job right now.. Sooo I figured why not practice writing a bit and put this somewhere? I know it's a part of life, there's always a bully somewhere, but recently I've seen so much of it and I do not get it. I was taught to be nice to others, the "if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything" thing. I know I haven't always gone out of my way to be nice to people, most of the time I'm quiet around people I don't know. I mean I don't start conversations in the grocery store line and stuff like that usually.. I politely reply if spoken to and usually don't try to continue talking. Now don't get me wrong here, I can hold a conversation with almost anyone. I've worked in retail for longer than I care to announce ;) and anyone who has done that can tell you you have to be a pretty damn good conversationalist and sometimes a great actor (even if you do believe in what you are selling) to be successful at it.
Here's where my confusion begins.. What exactly does a person get out of leaving "anon" hate mail (for the tumblr people) or a horrid comment on IG? I just don't get it. Do these people walk up to other people in the store or the sidewalk or anywhere and say those things? Would you walk up to someone on a beach and say "hey! Eat a cheeseburger" or "geeze, you're ugly!" Or "you're too fat for the beach"? I haven't seen that happen since maybe middle school. Yes, I'm aware of the 12 year olds that are responsible (that's another topic) but GROWN UPS? What in the world?
I've seen a lot of other people in general around the web (as I said before the no job thing gives me time) but being involved with SG has opened my eyes to it in an even more frightening way. I mean, I know we have freedom of speech and we are all entitled to our own opinions and the "you put yourself out here, so EXPECT it" thing I've heard and seen and heard. But seriously? Is that true? If so, I should also EXPECT to be called fat or old or gross or any number of things as I head into my local target right? NO. I don't. I would be shocked if that happened. Wouldn't you?
I'm not asking for explanations, these are more rhetorical questions I suppose. I know about the "Internet trolls" and the "bored people hiding behind the screens just trying to get attention" but the whole thing of it just boggles my mind. I'd much rather eat or cook or play a video game. Stare out the window, watch birds.. Read, sleep, take a long hot shower.. Hell, I'd rather lie on the floor in an empty room than tell someone that I don't even know that they aren't attractive to me for whatever reason.
Just last night I read a blog @chrysis wrote about her boobs. Yeah, you read that right.. Her own boobs! And how people who she didn't even know felt that they had the right to tell her what she should or shouldn't do to them. HER OWN BOOBS. This is what's amazing to me. She's a beautiful woman. She works damn hard, she's put herself out there in all her vulnerability to her FANS. not just about this, but about her life (sorry lady, I hope you don't mind this) but the part that struck me as strange the most is that her fans, fans of suicide girls, you know those same ones that say "this girl or that girl don't have enough tattoos or whatever" those same ones, felt it was ok to say "don't modify your body" WHAT?!
If I'm not hurting you and I didn't ask your opinion why are you giving it? YES, again I know if I put myself out there I'm gonna get the ignorant and rude comments, I'm gonna get peoples opinions thrown in my face. There will always be people that don't find me attractive and that's awesome! What if we all liked the same things? That would absolutely suck, it would be boring and we would all be after the same thing all the time. We wouldn't learn, we wouldn't evolve.
Yes, there's a lot of things I don't like or even understand, but I grow everyday, if I don't understand a lifestyle choice I try to, I'm open minded and try not to judge. Yes, there are things I've chosen to avoid or not be into, but I've never intentionally told a stranger that I didn't like something about them. If I don't like the photos they post, I unfollow them. If I don't like the things they say I block them. And if I don't want an opinion I won't ask for one.
Do you, be who you want to be. Don't hurt others. Be a good person. Those are he things I strive for, yes sometimes I say hurtful things to my sister and I don't feel good about it. But, i try to do things to make up for them (even though sometimes they don't) I really don't know where I'm going with this, just thoughts floating in my mind tonight.
As Bill and Ted once said "Be excellent to each other" and "Party on, Dudes"
Xx Del