I know my blog is about family, special needs, ASD, CP, etc, but the more I think about this, the more I have to sound off.
I have a friend who did an interview for a blog. She was asked some questions and answered them honestly, from her heart. She was in no way being offensive to any one. She was also stating an opinion. Of course, we all know there are trolls out there, lurking, waiting to attack at any moment. There was a comment left by a person who did not appear to be a troll. The person, however, did become offended by her opinion and went on to attack her in the comments & then in a post on her blog. My friend then felt the need to apologize profusely to this person & then posted an apology on her blog, feeling as if she had to do PR cause she is getting to be high profile.
I realize that the blogosphere reaches world wide. However, she & the commenter both live in the US of A. A place where we have the first amendment, entitling us to freedom of speech. See that first word there? Freedom. I am finding as I continue my adventures in blogging that many become offended by an opinion. I don't think there is anything wrong with having an opinion on a subject, one way or the other. As long as one is not spewing forth intentional hurt to others, I see no reason to attack. One should be able to state their counter opinion without being hurtful to the other person. Don't attack the person, argue your opinion. Simple points of debating 101.
It seems to me that we are causing ourselves to lose our freedom of speech. With so much political correctness, we have to censor ourselves so much. We are afraid to stand up for anything in fear of being criticized or attacked. I think that is why so many other countries hate us- we don't stand for anything. We back down. The principles this country was founded on have been compromised in the name of political correctness.
I believe you can't please everybody all of the time. However, please don't infringe on some one's freedom of speech. State your opinion, maybe use it as an opportunity to educate & move on. And as always....
If you don't like it, don't read it!
End of PSA
Cha-cha-cha-cha-chaaaaanges!
13 years ago
10 comments:
I agree!!!
(and I love your blog layout, don't know if I've told you or not since you changed it)
Like the new layout!
You know, when people have different opinions, it's such an opportunity--we can really learn about how other people think. Sadly, people often use other people's opinions as an excuse to get angry and take things personlly.
Amen!
I agree 100%...and I hate that I censor myself on my site. But I really dont want to spend thirty posts talking about how much my mother in law drives me crazy, LOL. In no way would I apologize though for something I put out there as my opinion though. Everyone has the right to feel they way they do.
Here, here. Well said. I concur. I second that motion and all those other saying that mean, I'm with you on this! :) Cheers!
Well put and well said. I know exactly to what incident you are referring and I feel the same way.
I am pretty much against censorship of any kind. I refer to the line from Edward Norton's character in the film 'The People Vs. Larry Flynt', when his lawyer character addresses the court: "I'm not asking you to like what Larry Flynt does. I DON'T like what Larry Flynt does. But he has a right to do it."
Please note I am not against what our mutual blog friend did or said IMO, she said absolutely nothing wrong. The person who responded to her interview publicly and unkindly took everything out of context and twisted it to their ugly advantage.
My point is simply very much like everyone else's and that is if you don't like 'Hustler Magazine'--don't buy it.
First Amendment goes both ways and to the person who responded unkindly to the interviewee, I say there's another side to the First Amendment and that is 'just because you COULD, doesn't mean you SHOULD.'
Shame on them for not seeing the beautiful light at the end of the tunnel that the interviewee has found in spite of her hardships that she was so gracious as to share with her fellow bloggers.
Thanks for posting on this, beautiful lady! Rock on!
Peace, love and happiness,
~Jo
"Diary Of A Sad Housewife"
I completely agree with this...this is the reason why I blog...because it's mine, and I'm FREE to say what ever I want...if you don't like it, don't read it....that simple
not off-topic at all. in fact, i think it's something most of us think about every now and then. trolls? well, they have nothing better to do with their time apparently, while we would rather spend our time bonding and supporting one another.
xo
Oh wow! I didn't even know you posted about this! Here I come strolling in almost a week later...
Thank you, Jo! *Hugs* Really, that was a HUGE downer and I am glad to have moved on.
Tiff-I agree. I am not going to hold back on my opinion for fear that someone may not like it. I enjoy speaking my mind and you know what? I love to learn other perspectives too! If done in a constructive manner I am open to broadening my viewpoint. The way this woman handled it was rude and after she ignored my apology and kept fueling the fire at her blog, I emailed her exactly what I thought and then emailed her commenters one by one and shared the WHOLE story with them. Many were surprised and most understood my viewpoint afterwards.
Normally I steer clear of drama, but this got under my skin because I felt vulnerable after revealing so much then to get ambushed like that...I wanted to defend myself.
Right on!
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