In life, we can either let our experiences make us bitter, or we can channel that feeling towards being a good example in order to improve things.



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Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Think about it

One time I saw a rude letter to the editor in a certain paper, in regards to a story that someone wrote about their trip. And the person writing the letter practically said 'who cares.'
Now is this neccessary? No. Not only that, but it's also hurtful to the author. I understand the letter writer can write what he want's, but should he? No, not if it's unneccessarily hurtful. This wasn't even a political article where people have different views and write in. Just a story. It's fine for the person to not find the story interesting. But to actually insult the author is not right.

This happened a long time ago and it's bygones already. The point is though that sometimes people think more about what they can and want to do and not enough about what they should do. Which makes for a very selfish attitude because it's like saying, I can say what I want and I don't care that you feel hurt.

I think that besides their rights, people should also think about their obligation towards others.

15 comments:

David_on_the_Lake said...

wow...good luck.
The public press is chock full of nastiness..gossip and the like.
Lets focus on our little frum blogworld...
:-)

smb said...

Well obviously this is not going to change the world. But hopefully some people will take it in.

Pragmatician said...

You're so right, I've seen people hurt others with the excuse "that's just who I am".
Who you are does not give anybody the right to needlessly hurt others.
Well said!

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

This is the motto of this generation "our rights" thats what ppl care about. Instead of thinking whats wrong with it they think that it's their right. You have a nice sensitivity for ppl hope it's contagious.

A Frum Idealist said...

I know of a situation that occurred many years ago not too far from where you are located.
A frum man wrote an "innocent" letter complaining about a certain product. The company received the letter and without giving their supplier an opportunity to explain or improve, they canned them on the spot. The frum man was horrified when he found out how and why a prominent member of his shul lost that job, subsequently his livelihood, his health, and believe it or not, his life.
Yes, this is an extreme case, but this all started with one "innocent" letter.

kasamba said...

Good post!
It brings home such an important message; negativity breeds negativity.

smb said...

Prag, yeah sometmes ppl use that excuse of 'just who I am' instead of trying to improve.

Social, exactly. A lot of ppl care more about what they want than how it will affect others.

AFI, ouch what an impact. That's why we need to be careful with our words.
What bothered me about the situation I mentioned in my post, was that there was no point in his letter. Usually letters to the editor have a point like when someone expresses a diff political view. But this letter had no point other than to just complain about the author's story. If he's not interested, fine. But don't insult.

Maybe he thought it was silly for the author to write about his trip, but what about people who are interested in reading it?

Kasamba, deffinately.

Thanks everyone

the only way i know said...

so right
they waste their own energy and distribute negative energies into the world-
big shame

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

Right so at least you have the sensitivity that others do not.

smb said...

The only, yeah

Social, thanks. deffinately important to have.

And there are many people who are also sensitive towards others, BH. And so that's good. :)

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

Yups it is. Be happy you have it.

BarbaraFromCalifornia said...

I agree...In an ideal world where people are consideration of one another, rights and obligations go hand in hand.

In reality, however, this may not be the case.

smb said...

Barbara, true in reality it's not the case. But we could aways try. :)

FrumGirl said...

People are selfish and insensitive. They enjoy feeling superior. Such is humanity.

smb said...

Yep, that's the norm.

It's really up to indeviduals to stop and choose to be different. I guess the thing is they have to want to.