Bullying Happens Everywhere

I believe in freedom of speech. I think everyone should have the right to express his or her opinion. That I never question. However, I do sometimes question the way people choose to express their points of view.

I have tried listening to radio talk shows like Neal Boortz, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. I have even tuned in to Bill O'Reilly a time or two. Sadly, I have never been happy with any of them. While I agreed with some of what they were saying, I could seldom get behind the way they said it.

I have also found it interesting that those who hate the men noted for how they express themselves, often end up resorting to the very same tactics. When did being rude, crude or downright cruel begin translating into something acceptable; much less into entertainment? It isn't entertaining. It's pathetic. Worse yet, it just another form of bullying.

I know that some people like shock radio, television and journalism. I have even read a few shocking comments here on AC/YN articles. I have to say I don't get it. With me, you lose your point when you resort to name calling, blanket categorization (e.g., all Democrats are far left liberal nuts) and crude behavior. Instead, how about laying out your opinion in a clear, concise, respectful manner backed up with facts?

Today, a friend of mine sent me a link to an article written about her. I went there expecting to read a few hateful comments about Christians are with a few more licks about her point of view. What I read instead was some of the most depraved and disgusting words it has ever been my shame to read.

Why is that some people care less about getting their point across than they do about dismantling another person's point of view? To me it smacks of the desperation of a bully.

I don't care if a person is a conservative, a democrat, a member of the tea party, a liberal or a libertarian. I don't care of they are English, Canadian, Asian, Hispanic or Russian. I don't care if their skin is black, white, red, yellow or green. I always "want" to respect a person's point of view. I believe they have something I might need to know. I want to learn from them so that I can grow and develop.

There are people here on AC/YN that I disagree with politically, philosophically and even morally. Does that mean I hate them? No it does not! Does it mean I can't learn something from them? Of course not! However, I will admit that how they choose to express their opinions may have an impact on how well I hear them. I don't listen to bullies.

I believe that every human being has value. I, therefore, believe that their feelings, thoughts, opinions and ideas also have value. That is, until they choose to prove me wrong. Where I disagree with people like the person who wrote the article I referenced is when what they say is more about hurting someone else than it is about making their point. Once someone goes there, I'm done!

Did the man in question have a valid point? I really couldn't tell you. It was lost in a long litany of gross comments that were beyond insensitive and inappropriate. They were also untrue. He accused my friend of not doing her research when, in fact, it was obvious that he hadn't done any at all. It wasn't an article about proving her wrong. It was one about taking her down as a human being. That is what bullies do.

As writers I believe we have a responsibility to choose our words carefully. We should always write in a way that achieves what we desire without dismantling someone else along the way. If we can't do that, then what is the whole point of protecting our freedom of speech? We can all just shout names at one another like kids on a playground. That's not a world I choose to live in.