I've been thinking a lot about how we interact on Twitter, especially when we disagree, and one thing I really REALLY wish we'd take to heart in general is just...choosing kindness whenever possible. Assume good intent from most people. Attack ideas, not each other.
I understand why many of us feel it's way past time for that. We're exhausted. Many of us have tried being kind for so long and it's gotten us nowhere...especially with the people who abuse kindness for their own selfish gain.
It's hard, but really important to have compassion.
The pandemic has been an object lesson to me about just how much control I have in this world. It's NOT MUCH.
But I can control the kind of person I am within this world. And I want to be someone who will always at least TRY to accept people where they are on their journeys.
"No matter what you're looking for in people, chances are you're going to find it."
Now more than ever I think it's essential to look for the good in people, even though they're flawed or speak clumsily or have disappointing takes based on ignorance. Attack the flaw. Not people.
Not everyone is going to have the same experiences or struggles that have lead some of us to our most deeply-held moral insights. We have to accept that (and them) in order to help them along the path.
No one learns well when they're feeling judged for their ignorance.
I'm just tired.
I'm tired of seeing us create our own hell out of this site by constantly finding new people to pillory.
I'd much rather see us create a community of action, support, learning, nurturing. We can build the world we want to see, but we have to DO it.
There are lines for me, sure. There *should* be lines. But I'm not going to bathe in my anger and hatred for these people, because that just makes ME miserable. It's not healthy for me.
Choosing to focus on what good there is, what good I can do, helps me to fight longer.