Socializing — a nice thing to do

A Welcome Visit, acrylic on canvas, 20×20, available at anntrainordomingue.com

A thought as the week unfolds.

Online ‘Social Media’ seems to have developed into an ugly hateful thing today. At the outset what appeared to be a way for people to communicate freely has also become a way for people to dis, disparage, hurt, embarrass, troll, stalk; to cruelly and intentionally harm another with relentless effort. And worse yet do physical or mental harm. Unfortunately online words and actions of bullying in all its ugly forms stay in the universe of digital communications forever. Horrible for those being bullied and disrespected and horrible for the bully when they realize someday how wrong they were to treat another human being as though they had no heart or soul.

As Americans we have the freedom to speak out in the ether or face to face. We cannot force someone else to listen to, read, or believe our words. We should be allowed to come to our own conclusions without fear of retribution, or harm or worse. And after a frank unresolved discussion still be able to be in one another’s company. And be nice to each other. Be polite.

Here’s to proper socializing making a comeback where kindness and respect for another’s different opinion matters. Here’s to keeping friendships alive despite  differences. Here’s to being brave enough to accept challenges to an opinion. Here’s to having friendships matter more than anything. Here’s to being nice.

Lesson learned: Niceness matters.