Things I Wish People Would Learn/Understand

[hector_rashbaum]

In no particular order.

• Freedom of speech does not, nor did it ever, mean freedom from the consequences of speech. Nor does it, or did it, mean one can say anything anytime anywhere.


• Anger is not the worst thing in the world. Anger alone does not invalidate anyone's point, nor does lack of anger validate anyone's. If someone is wrong, they're wrong, no matter how much you like or dislike their emotions.


• Ignorance is not an excuse - but it can be a good explanation. Ignorance will not be eradicated by belittling and silencing the ignorant; in many cases that makes it worse. The only way to eradicate ignorance is education.
  
  • You can't educate the adamantly unwilling; it's not a fault if you choose not to try.
  
  
  • No matter how ignorant you are, no individual owes you an education.


• Intention does not negate action, nor does it do away with the consequences. There's a difference between shooting someone in cold blood and shooting someone in self-defense, but at the end of the day someone still got shot.


• There is a difference between doing and being - someone who is racist might not always do racist things, and someone who does something racist is not necessarily a racist. An accusation of one is not an accusation of the other.


• Acting misogynist might make some boys like you, but they won't respect you - and every self-respecting person even marginally aware of gender inequality issues won't be able to stand you.


• In the same vein, faked misanthropic bullshit for the sake of looking badass (aka being ~*~edgy~*~) might make other idiots with no respect lol with you, but the rest of the world will be lol-ing at you.


• The fastest way to correct an inequality, assuming finite resources, is to take some from one side of the scale and add them to another. If you've always been used to four weights on your side, losing one might seem unfair - but if there are only six weights, it needs to go to the side with two to create balance. There's a vast difference between removing weights to correct an imbalance, and removing them to create an imbalance.


• Protecting a marginalized group from further marginalization is not the same as discriminating against the now-unprotected group.


• There's a difference between viewing women (or any marginalized group) as weak, and recognizing when other people talk or act as if women are weak. Recognition of an unfavorable situation does not condone or create the situation.


• Critique of your work is not the same as critique of your person; if you can't understand the difference, the biggest favor you will ever do for yourself is to avoid sharing your work.


• You can't dictate how other people respond to your ideas or the way you communicate them; nor can you ever say with absolute certainty how someone is feeling.


• Fiction =/= reality; writing =/= acting; thought =/= behavior. If you can't tell the difference between what I think and how I act, the problem is your own inability to separate fantasy from reality.


• You may be the most important person in your own universe, and that's not a bad thing, but expecting to be the most important person in everyone else's universe is just douchey.


• Words mean things. Words also have connotations that aren't necessarily in line with the meaning you intended. Failure to consider this is common. Constant refusal to even be aware of this is just as common, but infinitely stupider.

Comments

[kelpierocks.livejournal.com]

I've no argument with any of your points, but I am mildly curious as to the genesis of the post. ;)

[artmusicsoul.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering the same thing; I just didn't have anything intelligent to say besides, "What's going on?"

Also, I'm going to marry your icon.

[hector-rashbaum.livejournal.com]

Nothing specific, actually. Just the same things coming up a million times, and today I happened to be the right mix of bored and annoyed.

[stonefinder.livejournal.com]

Agreed with the addendum to free speech: it's a guarantee that the government cannot interfere with what you have to say, but it does not nor ever has guaranteed you an audience. You can say it but the rest of us don't have to listen to it.

General "you" btw, not you personally. :)