Grenades are a throw and duck
weapon. They are indiscriminant. They can cause injuries from minor to lethal.
A person can't throw a grenade far enough to escape the harm-causing zone. That’s
why a grenade is thrown from behind cover when possible.
The definition for word grenades would
be much the name. There are major differences of course. The injuries are not
physical, though there are those who have been bullied to commit suicide or
incited to commit harm.
The internet has provided for an
explosion in communication and the distribution of ideas and information.
Unfortunately an incredible amount of damage can be done as well. People’s
lives are being destroyed by social media on a regular basis. False or
misleading information is produced and distributed in prodigious amounts
through social media like facebook and web sites. Throw into this mix malicious
web sites trying to extract information, damage software or compromise people’s
computers for nefarious purposes. And there are also the digital vandals that
screw things up just because they can; driven by the same behavior that has
some people spray painting on walls.
It would have been nice if social
media could have become a place to exchange views freely without all the name
calling and vulgarity. With each passing day social media becomes more toxic,
polluted and divisive. It’s like people are being driven into digital enclaves
where they can freely associate with their own kind simply by unfollowing or
unfriending those with differing views. Social media quite often assumes a
lynch mob mentality where word grenades are freely tossed.
Facebook may be social but it isn't
always a friendly place and it gets less friendly with each passing day. An
awful lot of the time it’s just plain hostile. I have noticed that people,
including myself, will say things or post hurtful things on fb that they would
never dream of saying or doing in most physical world associations. It's like
we feel that we're anonymous on fb yet posting as ourselves. Sitting by
ourselves in front of our computers or using our various devices to communicate
emboldens us. We produce or pass along content and suddenly hundreds, thousands
or more see it. Go viral and we’ve hit the Bigs!
There seems to be a lot less
inclination to be civil or circumspect with our words. It’s easier to be witty
or witless depending upon one’s perspective. I miss open civil discourse where
there can be passionate disagreement without the descent into personal
pejorative-laden argument where any insights can be quickly lost. We lose the
possibility of some new consideration being brought to the table in the kinds
of exchanges that pass for communication in the word bite- and meme-driven
world of the internet.
There doesn’t appear to be anything
too personal and nothing so sacred that it can’t be posted or attacked in
hateful terms. From mocking people’s appearance to their beliefs; from the
trivial to the sacred is fair game. Family stuff that used to only be shared in
private is now aired publically. Facebook is very public regardless of what
so-called privacy settings are used. I have under-developed thought filters. I
overshare. I think I was born this way. I’m trying to cut back. I’ll fail.
Disagree with someone or a particular
post and “you” are not just stupid you’re a special kind of stupid. Meaning
that you’re a special kind of stupid in a generic non-threatening kind of
non-personal way in a post sent out to all of your “friends”. Except they
really do mean you.
We friend people without
considering if their social operating system may be vastly different than our
own. In the real world we tend to hang with those that we’re compatible with.
Social media is a whole different animal yet we post as if we’re sharing with
kindred spirits (but not really). We post regardless of hurting feelings or
stepping on toes.
We should skip hurling pejoratives
at those with opposing views. We have the ability to take our criticisms,
conversations, postings, etc. to a higher level. Yes, the shrill from the right
and the left have every right to express their views however they see fit. They
will continue their spew 24/7. We have the right and obligation as citizens not
to pander to the lowest common denominator. We have the right to not be their
audience and to deny them a broader audience by not passing along their hate as
if it were our own.
It isn't just the parties of the
extremes that have been compromised. It is the heart of the United States of
America as well. (I used the whole name because of the "United" part.)
Fear should not be our guide to a
better future. Fear will not lead us to a better place. We do need to
acknowledge it and question if it’s real and then deal with it with all the courage we can muster.
We need to reach a place where we
are at least the united United States when it comes to taking care of the best
interests of humanity. A nation where people's hands aren't tied behind their
backs with paperwork and with political theater preventing them from doing what
is right. A nation where love and compassion are shown to those least able to
take care of themselves. A nation that ministers to the poor; puts them first
at the table. A nation that cares for children today while planning their
better future without one excluding the other.