We Used To Be Better

I don’t know when I first noticed that my Facebook feed was filled with comments about how stupid a person must be to vote for a Republican/Democrat.

Can’t say that such a distinction would make a difference either.

What I know is that I see these disparaging remarks made by educated people and that they are applied liberally about those they disagree with.

Vote for or support the wrong party and I can guarantee that someone will call you an idiot and or ask why you are so dumb.

I mentioned this to a few people and someone told me that my observation meant I didn’t really understand what was going on and suggested I read more.

If they had balls they would have told me they thought I was stupid or ignorant and not couched it in   condescending and passive-aggressive finery.

It’s Ok To Disagree

Had we been face-to-face they would have known how dumb I thought their comment was. I wouldn’t have bothered to use the poker face.

I teach my children it is ok to disagree with others and that we can be civil when we do it. I teach them not to be afraid to challenge their beliefs and to be willing to stand alone if need be.

Lately that seems to be a lost art.

It feels like we have entered a time of finger pointing and an intolerance for being offended.

Every week we read or hear another story about people crying about how they are being abused because they were exposed to thought they didn’t like.

It is not always hate speech. It is not always something so horrid or awful that your jaw drops because you can’t believe you just heard it, or at least it is not the kind of hate speech I am thinking of.

Now it is just speech you disagree with. Now it is just rolling your eyes at someone else because you disagree with whom they want to elect to office.

We Used To Be Better

I want to say we used to be better but the truth is I am not convinced we were.

Since I am not providing any sort of factual analysis or evidence to support any of my positions it is possible I am wrong and possible I am right.

Thing is, if I did provide such a thing people who disagree with it would call it left/right wing propaganda and dismiss  it.

They’d dismiss it because if it doesn’t follow their beliefs or fall into their political perspective it is automatically declared false.

There is something both sad and disturbing about that.

We should be better.

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By Joshua Wilner

Hi, I am Josh Wilner and I am happy that you have decided to visit my corner of cyberspace. I am a writer/marketer/friend and family man. My professional background includes more than twenty years in working with businesses to help them do a better job of connecting with their existing and prospective customers. More specifically I have worked with companies of all sizes from the Fortune 500 to the new start up to help them build, develop and grow their social media and marketing plans. I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy music, reading, writing, playing sports and laughing.

6 comments

  1. I had a terrible time on social media as an Englishman during the Scottish independence referendum. I was a no voter and shared some stuff about that on Twitter. I can’t remember how many people I blocked in the end but it was a lot. I really don’t mind people disagreeing with me but they have to be civil about it!

    I have to say when I see Donald Trump on the TV I have to laugh. I see him as a bit of a madman who bought a piece of land on the Aberdeenshire coast to build a gold course. He rants and raves about wind farms being built and how that will affect the view from his fairways. Maybe I just haven’t connected with him!

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Joshua Wilner says:

      Hi Tim,

      Well I have to imagine you got the usual dose of nasty and crazy, that seems to be the way of the world now. People get so damn upset when you shine a light on what they don’t like or believe.

      That is never fun.

      Reply

  2. Hey there mate,

    I always smile when I see people complaining on Facebook, or Twitter, etc., about something I said, or something one of my friends said. Because it’s all opt-in.

    You’re a vegan and you don;t like my bacon pictures? Unfollow. You’re religious and you don’t like my anti-religious stance? Unfollow. You’re a single person and you don’t like my kid pics? Unfollow.

    Life’s too short to hang around people you fundamentally disagree with. If you can’t be around, and take part in an adult and civil discussion, then close the door on the way out. I’m not your babysitter, and you’re not my moral guardian.

    It’s funny how much more enjoyable your social media experience will be when you follow that simple mindset.

    Hey ho. 🙂

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Joshua Wilner says:

      Part of what prompted this are the posts and articles I have read about university students who say they can’t function because they don’t have ‘safe’ spaces to live and study in.

      I understand if you are the target of hate speech and you are being threatened but what I don’t understand is why people think they are entitled not to be offended or upset.

      It makes me wonder and question what sort of world we are living in and creating. Part of the purpose and reason I read posts/articles that don’t follow my POV is to see if I am missing something.

      I challenge myself and my beliefs to make sure they make sense.

      It is ok to disagree. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree because that is life and like you said, if you are not being forced to ‘consume’ all you have to do is choose to go a different way.

      Change the channel, unsubscribe etc.

      Reply

      1. It makes me wonder what some parents are teaching their kids as to what should be given to them.

        I read an article this week about the 10 things your kids should be able to do by middle grade, and I thought, seriously? We need articles for this?

        I was doing all that stuff by the time I was 10, and I know my school friends were too. It seems by encouraging our kids to be less like us, we’re actually making them worse.

        Gah.

        Reply

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