Brain dump day! Probably should have gone and played golf, was a looooong week and a lot of travel, I needed a day to let my body rest. Never really thought I would hear myself say that ‘let my body rest’ but there it is. I have always been a “Push through everything” type of person, body just said “NO WAY” today.

Many years ago, I enjoyed the opportunity to debate, argue or get my opinion out in the open. I would do whatever it took to make my point heard. Today, I am a different person, happier, calmer and a much better listener. I would like to think that I have evolved instead of just getting older.

Now Twitter does challenge my patience. I use twitter for a variety of reasons, the foremost being interacting with other Detroit sports fans. Living 20 hours from my hometown, I missed those interactions. Where I run into problems is when I read too much and start letting people’s opinions about other subject’s filter into my brain.

Hence the purpose of the title of this post.

There are certain subjects that I try to avoid on social media and that is because there is not a winner in those debates. Politics being number one! You are not going to change another person’s view about what their beliefs are. The road on social media to politics only seems to divide friendships. You have to choose, is the friendship more important than your own political views?

Another topic that jumps up a lot on SM is personal choices or habits. Smokers, drinkers, vaccinated, non-vaccinated, meat lovers, vegetarians and other personal choices are subject matter to criticism and ridicule by the ‘holier than though’ individuals online. As a matter of fact, and speaking of ‘holier than though’, religion too is a topic that spurs much volatility on SM.

I stopped following quite a few people this week and some of those I blocked. Not that all of them got under my skin, I just decided that the subject matters that they like to delve in do not get me closer to my vision or my peace. It is important that we work towards our dreams, towards our visions and to our peace. Which in effect brings more peace to those around us.

Brain dump! Hard to stay focused, a reflection of what goes in in our heads at times. I am there now, just so many stimuli hitting my thoughts at once.

I decided that I had a choice to make with twitter, I had the chance to decide what I wanted to read and what I didn’t. I had the choice to make of who I wanted to tolerate and who I did not. Some people teach us many things every day. I have a few friends like that. They teach us things because of their intelligence, and they teach us things because of their opinions. We learn from their actions and writings, plus their inability to hold back with their emotions.

People are so quick to be critical, that is such an incredible go to habit. To throw their opinion out like that is just like a second nature.

Most of the bullies on Twitter, IMHO, are very insecure. Want to dish it out and be cute, when you point out their fallacy they block you. Which is fine with me. I try to lift others up and I guess some folks do not like that.

One guy this week took a shot at me over a post, and when I politely allowed him to save face, he loaded up his gun with his trademark sarcastic bullying, and took another shot. I did not lash out, just asked him to re-read the initial post again, another chance to let him save face…nope, he blocked me. Which is fine, because I probably would have done the same back if he took another shot…

This was a prime example of someone being caught in the act of trashing someone to build their own self up. Most people on twitter either take it or go right to the block. I chose to practice our principles. This guy also loves to comment, with immense opinion, on politics (Far far left) music (Enjoyed his taste in the variety of what he liked) and literature. In each area he was the most definite authority on the subject, just ask him! Nobody knew more!

I heard a good talk on leadership yesterday. The gentleman mentioned that the person who showed rudeness, arrogance and selfishness lacked the qualities of leadership. I thought about this guy when I heard that.

Some people do not like the truth. There was a guy, again on twitter, that always had such a well written response to many different types of posts. I was very impressed, very bright in many different subject matters. One day he had commented on a post that interested me, so I searched the engines to find out more. Started reading the Wikipedia coverage of the subject when I read the EXACT thing that he posted. I did some investigating. I looked at 10 tweets that he commented on with fantastic info, 9 of them were cut and paste from Wikipedia. Ha ha. Smart guy. I sent him a private message about it. He blocked me, TRUTH, he did not like it. Yes, I could have let it slide, why?

I read a quote from Sigmund Freud : “Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility”

I see that a lot in people, when challenged by something like the truth, accountability or responsibility, they wilt. They shutdown. They become critical or search to find fault in the other person. Their response is not to learn or consider, it is to defend and attack.

I’ve been taught, when wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically. (Dale Carnegie Principle) Also, when wrong, search out the information so that you can learn. How? Ask questions, listen and be curious. Have a desire to want to improve. Much different than defend and attack. One of my nephews once told me that I was “Weak” because of that trait. (He is an attack attack person) It is so easy to react with emotion, tougher to work for a solution that is good for both or all concerned. I do not see it as weak.

“Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility”

In some of the topics above I notice this is a trait of some. I see it in workshops, some of the people who do a good portion of the complaining in companies, are also, when given the opportunity for responsibility, the ones who shuck it off. Why? I am not sure. Lack of self belief? Insecure? Strong beliefs? The era they were raised? More socialistic than capitalistic?

The last part I see a lot in the area of media from my generation. You came out of the 60’s, the hippie years. Media was an interesting place, especially the written journalistic side, newspapers. Now you see these folks in their 60’s, careers have past them by and yet their beliefs have not. They again have a place to “Write” these things and “Publish” them. Social Media. Maybe they played a small part in their “Career jobs” and never got to be what they wanted to be, like a person that got to PUBLISH their OPINION and see it in print. So now they do it, and it is like they are vomiting 50 years of pent up political or opinionated frustrations, they just let it fly. Still do not like the “Man”, still tend to push away the chance to hold themselves responsible. I digress.

Like I said, this is a brain dump.

Done dumping.

In summary, lift others up. Do not let the insecurities of others or their bullying style make you harsh or bitter. Be you and be positive. Realize, the truth does not matter to some. Some people look at refusing responsibility as a badge of courage.

Thanks for reading my musings…

Bob