Ya, I tried not to do this, I really did, because I DO think I tend to get a skosh pompous and soap-boxy and pontifactory (IS a word, NOW), but...well...wow.

Er, and if ever I have "come off" as pompous? Really I'm sorry, twas NEVER my intent.

Re: doing this when I din't really wanna: Damn my mind, basically, is what I'm saying.

There've been a few incidents recently, with some...whatchamacallits...clashes? Yes, and some PERVS have been booted (and thank you Steve, OUR HERO!) and lots of talk about respect and empathy and being too sensitive or not sensitive enough and about thinking twice before you "submit" and all that other whatnot.

Crap. I already put my seven cents in, a long time ago (that was back when I was working and could spare more than TWO cents). And I admit that I was livid, when I did it, and DID feel everso self-righteous and justified, but then I was told in no uncertain terms that I hadn't ought to have had done it (grammarpaloooza, yo).

Aaaaaaaaaand here I am again, sincerely hoping I don't sound too terribly pompous.

Wonder how many times I will say "pompous" in this diatribe?

Anyway:

I just think there's a giGANtic PushMePullYou (OOOO anyone remember the original Dr. Doolittle? Love that movie) kinda thing when it comes to "respect" versus "express yourself" vs. "no censorship" vs. "too" sensitive vs. "empathy" or "sympathy" or "tolerance" (and once again, as always, GAG me with quote marks).

I truly think that overall, we're pretty good. And I like and verily TREASURE the super-direct people, who call us on our BS, when we need it (and I DO need it, often)--and actually, even when they call us on it when we DON'T need it.

Does that make me a masochist?

But I digress.

And I also love the lovey caring people (I try to be one of them), who take umbrage (wow, never thought I'd get to use THAT word) when people seem to get too harsh.

I've come to the conclusion, having been on both sides AND in the middle of dramas and schisms and such on this here, my home on the puter, that, well, they're allowed. Such conflicts are LIFE. And I think they're important, because they teach us stuff. About boundaries, and individual personalities, and senses of humor, and sensitivities.

There are ALWAYS gonna be people who innately clash. ALWAYS. I don't think it's a matter of respect or empathy. I think it's a matter of PEOPLE. There's no way in BABYLON that all people are gonna get along all the time and/or just intrisically respect strangers on the web.

I admit a bit of envy towards those people who see stuff that they can't stand and they just SAY it. I do! Cuz I kinda can't "go" there. I think it's important.

It brings me back to that great blog Hills did awhile back about the Interwebs Bullies. It was SO weird, that people were taking it SO seriously.

Granted, it's a different animal, here, cuz most of us have been here for a good long while and we sorta "know" each other, but, seriously, why on EARTH do we take what strangers say SO seriously?

Seriously!

Now, if one of my lovies suddenly got on my arse about something, in a personal-attacky way, yes, I'd be hurt (and have been, let's be honest), but when someone I don't know that well has a problem with me? Eh. That's their prerogative, and hopefully it will open a dialog, and an understanding, and dare I say it, an agreement to disagree or maybe even a meeting of the minds on other things?

Or not. It's a fact of life that not EVERYONE is gonna like or even get along or even TRY to get along with everyone else.

Cuz really: Don't we all tend to gravitate towards those with whom we seem to have something in common? Or to those with whom we share at least a partially-similar sensibility?

OH, the whole conflict thing: It's the nature of the human beast, you ask me (and beastly we ARE, us humans; also noble and fine and petty and spectacular and horrid, and other adjectives, as well).

And of course, you didn't ask. But here you have it, anyhoo.

Crickey, I should NEVER blog when I can't SEE (which is the clever and subtle way of saying pardon my typos, yo).

Tags: Pontificate Musings Philosophy RANTS

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