I spend a lot of time observing the world I live in, and every now and then, I notice a curious thing or two. Well, I've done just that. I've realized a curious thing. I've realized the power of anonymity.
People seem to think they are free to say whatever they please when they can't be seen. Somehow being ugly is alright as long as their own identity is hid. Somehow anonymity protects against a stain on character, but from whom? and how? and does it really work?
You've seen it in comments on the internet in social media and even in the newspaper. People are brave when they can't be seen. There's just something about having the safety of a screen or a page between reader and writer that can turn nice people into trolls! But Dear Reader, please take heed. Please beware. No matter how concealed you are when you say and do hurtful things, your identity doesn't matter. The ugly things you say and do, have still been done by you.
What foolishness to look for trouble! what foolishness to meddle. Don't stir up trouble where no trouble is. Grab a dog by it's ears and prepare to feel a nasty bite! Anonymity may give you freedom in the short term to be mean and nasty, but don't fall victim to the foolery. Don't listen to the lie. Don't be a troll!
Listen dear reader, and take a hint. "Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel." Proverbs 20:3
Don't be a troll, not even on the internet, because if you go looking for trouble, you will most certainly find it! "Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own." Proverbs 26:17
The anonymous are free.
Free from consequence and recompense
saved from all responsibility
of words they spoke
of words they wrote
This is the cowardice of anonymity.
The anonymous are free
free to stir up strife and feed the flames
of foolish animosity
with thoughts they spoke
with thoughts they wrote
This is the foolery of anonymity
The anonymous are free.
Free from what? and free just how?
kindness counts in everything
It counts in words no matter what
hateful things are not forgot
regardless of identity.
People seem to think they are free to say whatever they please when they can't be seen. Somehow being ugly is alright as long as their own identity is hid. Somehow anonymity protects against a stain on character, but from whom? and how? and does it really work?
You've seen it in comments on the internet in social media and even in the newspaper. People are brave when they can't be seen. There's just something about having the safety of a screen or a page between reader and writer that can turn nice people into trolls! But Dear Reader, please take heed. Please beware. No matter how concealed you are when you say and do hurtful things, your identity doesn't matter. The ugly things you say and do, have still been done by you.
What foolishness to look for trouble! what foolishness to meddle. Don't stir up trouble where no trouble is. Grab a dog by it's ears and prepare to feel a nasty bite! Anonymity may give you freedom in the short term to be mean and nasty, but don't fall victim to the foolery. Don't listen to the lie. Don't be a troll!
Listen dear reader, and take a hint. "Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel." Proverbs 20:3
Don't be a troll, not even on the internet, because if you go looking for trouble, you will most certainly find it! "Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own." Proverbs 26:17
The anonymous are free.
Free from consequence and recompense
saved from all responsibility
of words they spoke
of words they wrote
This is the cowardice of anonymity.
The anonymous are free
free to stir up strife and feed the flames
of foolish animosity
with thoughts they spoke
with thoughts they wrote
This is the foolery of anonymity
The anonymous are free.
Free from what? and free just how?
kindness counts in everything
It counts in words no matter what
hateful things are not forgot
regardless of identity.
in light of the horrid things that just happened to me in regard to this, I heartily say AMEN and BEWARE!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you when I wrote this Conny! Ever since you closed your blog I've been thinking about this and praying for you. So sorry about what happened, but I'm so glad you are bouncing back.
DeleteThis post just happened to change my life! -TINA ;)
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