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With so many suffering heavy punishment for speaking their minds via modern technology, it’s ever more vital we who do not “tweet” with our actual names spelled out on a glowing screen applaud and celebrate our “anonymity.” We cowardly souls who bravely don costumes and vent as we feel fit when technology works with us; we should be comforted and celebrated.
It seems like every day in the news someone is getting grilled for something “offensive.” We have squads of LGBT and feminism police officers, hordes of body-celebrating (instead of shaming) and various other armies going to war with the most sensitive of mining equipment capable of picking up the slightest blip of questionable commentary, increasingly adjusting the high standard of moral conduct until everyone who isn’t a violated woman or LGBT-type person will be guilty of offense and thereby open to verbal, mental and physical assault by the so-called victims. So far, we without publicized names have been safe of retaliation.
I can’t speak for every offense case, but I would not be surprised if some offenses deemed fit for court or the loss of a job turned out to be misinterpreted. After all, kids on a playground can cry wolf and have a teacher call a parent simply because the tattle-tale had a sweet face or stronger voice than the supposed offender. And, who is to say some of these offensive voiced bits aren’t said at times when the speakers are not in the best of moods or right minds? I know I don’t subscribe to alcohol or recreational drugs. But, others do. And, just because shit comes out of one’s mouth three years ago on a bad day does not mean that person is anti-gay or a chauvinistic maniac.
And, what if someone is a tad gay-phobic or unclear on the nature of that lifestyle? Is every inappropriate remark worthy of jail time or a giant fine? Are we catering to lawyers so they can put their hideous faces and names on every item advertised on local TV? I don’t want to see so many lawyer ads. I don’t want those people thinking they run the place just because they are getting old and think investing in a little advertising everywhere makes them immortal. You TV lawyers have really become annoying! And, I will not likely support you or any cause/company with your name on it because you are (annoying).
But, I’m getting off-subject, now. Ehem.
You really have to mind your words and be sure you don’t touch another living soul lest you be accused of inappropriately fondling someone. A pat on the back could be deemed the grabbing of a breast (on your back, apparently). A sociable kiss on the cheek might be viewed as unwanted intimacy of the worst kind unless you can certify you are from a nation that does this socially as a part of their native culture. Parents who kiss their kids on the lips? You’re likely next on the chopping block.
One wonders if “social media” isn’t a mousetrap. It lures people out of hiding to voice every little thing to come into their tiny brains…only to get them in trouble? Snap! You’re dead and out with the banana peels you slipped on coming in here.
But, I suppose, being anonymous DOES have it’s setbacks. I mean, people are less trusting of random or fake names…unless you learn to share a sense of creativity and/or humor and can spell correctly (which so many cannot). [Stop trying to speak English if you cannot use a dictionary. I don’t use Spanish words I don’t know how to spell.] You can’t really be a shopkeeper with a fake name, can you?…unless it’s a brand name. But, even then, you have to be accountable for that shop with a real name/some form of ID. People who use their real names seem to be taken more seriously because they seem fearless and, well, real, genuine.
[Yet, in this shady world of face-less interaction–unless you use some service like Skype which seems already forgotten these days–how do you determine a real face you see is that person’s real face? And, how many “faceless” internet users stalk those “real” people, taking advantage of the exposed while remaining randomly generated user names, often with long barcode-like numbers attached, giving me the impression they are “bots” or some call center staff members in a building dominated by Middle-Eastern folks by the dozens?]
It seems astounding that more celebrities don’t use fake online names/accounts. But, maybe they do, and all we know are the ones we hear about in the news when some mosquito with a microphone or phone-camera is stalking these people.
Once upon a time, people kept personal thoughts on parchment scrolls they had to carry with them wherever they went. If anyone else read them, it was because the author read, lost or donated the scrolls. Many years later, people kept notebook-style journals, especially teenage girls, who would lament brothers and parents violating their privacy. Now, we have computers of various capacities and sizes. And, instead of a PC journal like the one Doogie Howser, M.D. kept, so many turn to blogs and these accursed “tweeting” type accounts, putting everything “out there” for the world to see and LIKE and shallowly evaluate from afar…from anonymous spaces.
In short, those of you who have not put your real selves out for all to see, ye who do not YouTube your boob lube and hash-tag your new ‘do rag and personal mag’ (magazine), blippity blobbity blah!…. My blood pressure spiked just then and tangled my tongue-fingers. Or, is it my finger-tongue? Anyway. Those of you, like me, who create unique identities for themselves online for whatever reason, embrace and applaud your anonymity, today. And, count your blessings. Because you could be somewhere down the list of those moral-criminal-hunting Elmer Fudds and receive severe punishment for the slightest misunderstanding or careless outburst on your worst day. But, for now, you’re Joe Cool and free to be loose with those journalistic lips.
[We should start a holiday. But, no one seems to follow me on those thoughts any better than I follow others. So, I guess I’m limited to suggesting and waiting for some trendsetter to print up all the hoopla and manufacture all the swag.]
Happy Anonymity Day(s)!
How Many LIKES Does It Take to Get…
Tags: blog, comments, input, like, likes, participation, question
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…someone to actually respond to something I write and/or request?
I doubt any owl or turtle can help solve this one.
But, I am dying to know what good it does to LIKE a request post and never follow up with input. Is that the equivalent of “I’ll get back to ya” in all things LIKE-able? Wherever you can LIKE something, there good intentions sit ineffectively.
What am I talking about (if you don’t already understand or see what posts of mine fit this description)? I’ve posted inquiries and minor “contests” which might get one response if I am lucky.
So, go ahead and LIKE this post when you see/read it. Add it to your bulletin board like one more autumn leaf waiting to fall among the clutter. It’s only worth a fraction of a something to the host site that accepts your “clicks” like currency. And, who doesn’t want to make this place richer while not making a dime?