Think before you comment

“For some kinds of thought, especially moral decision-making about other people’s social and psychological situations, we need to allow for adequate time and reflection,” said first author Mary Helen Immordino-Yang of the USC Rossier School of Education.

In other words, when you read something on the internet, whether it be via email, blog post, Twitter update, Facebook update, etc., think about what the other person is saying before you comment, because it may take some time to understand what the other person is saying.

I was so angry at something that happened online last night AND the subsequent email that I received regarding said incident, that I was considering taking a month's break from the computer. Because there were people who jumped to conclusions, formed their own opinions based on other's very quick conclusions (instead of using their brains to formulate their OWN opinion), and didn't take time to try to understand what someone might be trying to convey, there were some very (dare I say) idiotic comments made about said subject. Then to top it off, an email was sent to me about my comment on said subject accusing me of something that made absolutely no sense at all!!!! There was absolutely NO basis for it!

What made me most angry was the fact that people were getting so offended at something that wasn't directed at them in the first place. It seems that people respond before even TRYING to understand someone else's position on something. AND some people respond in an ugly manner if the other person's opinion differs from theirs. When did everyone have to have the same opinion? I didn't get that memo!!!!!

Here is a great article that I encourage you to read if you make any online comments at all.

Sorry for the rant, but I really think that people need to be more open-minded, and realize that there are going to be people out there who have different political/religious belief, life situations, etc, and that's OK! They are also going to have different opinions and shouldn't be scolded because of it. The internet has allowed us to have friends from every kind of culture and background, so doesn't it make sense that opinions are going to vary greatly?