Rant to end all rants

I am sick of rants in answer to rants. Just because someone "called you out" (based on their assumptions, and their prejudices and their waking up on the wrong side of the bed-ness, or whatever) doesn't mean you have to call them out on the internet for all to see as well.

What are you proving?

What is anyone proving by doing this?

Why can't we all just get along?!

I realize that the adage "if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything" is too simplified a rule for this complicated world we live in. Perhaps it should be, "if you don't have something nice to say, wait 5 minutes and then engage in a less angry and more enlivened debate where we listen to each other before responding and both come out of the discussion feeling better about where that went."

I get mad about things on the internet all the time! But you know what, I don't live on the internet. If someone doesn't agree with me, that's cool! Good for them! I'm going to go for a walk in the ravine now!

If something makes an assumption about the life I lead and sends me a snarky email or posts a snarky comment on a blog post, oh well. These photos won't scrapbook themselves! And also, I think I will invite my friends over for margaritas now!

I blog my life, but my life is not my blog. I don't require the internet for my business, livelihood, or social activities & mental well-being. I can take a step back (a giant leap really) and not have it impact the way I provide for my family or the way "my personal brand" (oh barf) is perceived.

And thank goodness for that!

If someone slanders your name, address it directly. If someone sends you an email that threatens your life, do something about it!

But don't use the vast and polarizing nature of the Internet to be nasty just because somebody said something you didn't agree with. This goes for trolls and bonafide "Internet Personalities" as well.

As soon as you get on your soapbox to address somebody else who got on their soapbox (ad nauseum) you've just got a bunch of people fist-pumping you or throwing figurative rotten tomatoes at you and no one is listening to anything that is actually being said or trying to solve the damn problem that was brought up in the first place! And before you know it everybody has taken up their own soapbox of indignant righteousness and we lose a little bit more of that empathy towards each other (you know, the actual living breathing warm human person on the other side of the screen) that this medium threatens on a daily basis.

I'd rather watch thousands of cat videos than see that happen.

Why is it so hard to say: "I'm sorry you feel that way. Do you have an idea of a constructive solution to this issue that you have brought up today? Let's discuss!"

Or rather, say nothing at all.

And so ends my rant towards other rants in response to other rants.

The Internet is a nasty mistress.

xo Lisa

p.s. I love cats, and their videos.