When meeting people for the first time, it’s often said to not discuss either religion or politics. If this is the case in real life, then it must be even doubly so online: or so it is assumed by most people. Check out Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter, message boards, etc and it’s pretty easy to find posts and discussion threads filled with hate speech. We see people calling others infidel. We see others decrying the godlessness of atheists. Some people raise the flag of a patriot and rant against socialists and communists. Others call out for justice and rail against fascists and right-wing nut jobs. Yet more can’t resist using words like fag, dyke, or homo, not to mention other derogatory terms, to paint some as a horrifying “other.” People look at all of this and feel genuine fear. They shut down and censor themselves, unwilling to write posts on Google Plus, talk about personal stories on Facebook, share links on Twitter or talk about anything at all controversial because they don’t want to draw down a flame war. We need to ask ourselves, is this right? Should we, as a local, national and worldwide community, allow this? In other words, should we permit there to be taboo subjects online? I say no. Not softly, either, but passionately, emphatically, and loudly – No! I have no formal studies to back me up here, no data, and no research. I have nothing here but what I perceive to be common sense. The world is filled with hate, with distrust, with fear. We are afraid to be labeled as different, as the “other”, to stick our heads up above the ground since it will be shot off. But it needn’t be this way. The beauty, fundamentally, of places like Google+ is that they provide each of us with the ability to get to know people around the world, people from disparate cultures and varying backgrounds. By using social media, we have the opportunity to meet new people and not judge them by their name, their appearance, their gender, their race, their religion, their orientation, their culture. We can instead cut to the heart of people and get to know the person inside by examining the content of their ideas and characters by what people write and say, unfiltered by the preconceptions and expectations that often cloud our judgment when we meet people offline. All it takes is something so simple we teach it to our children, yet is often forgotten by adults. Treat others as you yourself would wish to be treated: The Golden Rule. Each of us in life has a responsibility, a duty almost, to do what we can to heal the world and bring people together. It doesn’t even need to be a big thing. The smallest step is still a step forward to heal a fracture and bring people closer. All it takes is for each of us, online, in whatever social media service we find ourselves in, to show respect. To use good manners and use a kind, moderate word instead of a hate filled one. To come to the defense of someone who can’t defend themselves. To be friendly and say hello, help them learn their way around a new home on the internet. If we each do that little, small thing that is within our power, it can add up to a big change so that no subject is taboo. And, if we eliminate taboo subjects, we can begin to truly learn about each other, to celebrate our differences and work together to find solutions for the myriad problems we see the world over. Will you join this struggle and lead by example? Will you use civility as a tool for exploration and sharing? I hope the answer is yes. Because, if we all do this, then we can honestly say that no, there are no taboo subjects.
We took everything you liked about RockMelt’s one-click Share and made it 10x better.
In addition to new features like thinner Edges and easier App adding, the latest RockMelt includes a completely re-designed Share button that lets you share to multiple people and services simultaneously.
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jmak:
Thanks, Steve.
Posting designs like this one makes me paranoid, because I can’t shake the feeling that it’s not original. I enjoyed the process regardless, but please let me know if somebody else beat me to the idea!
Thoughts?
I shot a large gallery for ZDNet, should be up soon.
See the full gallery on Posterous
At what point does the need for security eclipse human dignity and compassion?
Yesterday I went through the imaging scanner at JFK Terminal 4 for my Virgin America flight to San Francisco. Evidently they found something, because after the scan, I was asked to step aside to have my breast area examined. I explained to the agent that I was a breast cancer patient and had a bilateral mastectomy in April and had tissue expanders put in to make way for reconstruction at a later date.
I told her that I was not comfortable with having my breasts touched and that I had a card in my wallet that explains the type of expanders, serial numbers and my doctor’s information (pictured) and asked to retrieve it. This request was denied. Instead, she called over a female supervisor who told me the exam had to take place. I was again told that I could not retrieve the card and needed to submit to a physical exam in order to be cleared. She then said, “And if we don’t clear you, you don’t fly” loud enough for other passengers to hear. And they did. And they stared at the bald woman being yelled at by a TSA Supervisor.
To my further dismay, my belongings, including my computer, were completely out of sight. I had no choice but to allow an agent to touch my breasts in front of other passengers.
I just didn’t understand why these agents were so insensitive to the situation. I would have been happy to show her which bag was mine and have her retrieve the card, but she did not allow even that. I have been through emotional and physical hell this past year due to breast cancer. The way I was treated by these TSA agents added a shitload of insult to injury and caused me a great deal of humiliation.
I understand the need for safety when flying, but there is also a need for those responsible to be compassionate and sensitive to each situation. These agents were neither.
I can only comfort myself with the fact that Karma is always circular.
