Several years ago, I saw a psychologist being interviewed on TV, saying that our society had lost its sense of privacy, that people no longer drew a line for sharing or not sharing what used to be considered confidential and personal issues. That was BEFORE Facebook and Twitter. I think at the time it was a response to TV shows like Jerry Springer and Monteil Williams, where people would tell all about what should have been family secrets.
But now we have "social media sites" -- people air their squabbles and tell what they "really" think, in front of the whole world! And people no longer differentiate between the virtual and real world. It's ALL real.
We have cyber stalking, cyber espionage, cyber dating and cyber bullying. And anybody can watch or participate. Employers check Facebook and Twitter accounts of prospective employees or fire current ones for making negative comments. Teachers get special training on how to teach students how to deal with cyber bullying-- because kids have even committed suicide over it. People feel comfortable making hateful comments on posts by people they don't even know.
What ever happened to, "if you can't say something good, don't say anything at all?" Or "do to others what you'd want them to do to you"?
There is a lot in scripture about words. People talk about all those "bad rules" God has... but what is so terrible about a rule that says "love your neighbor as yourself"? Or "don't lie"? Or "treat others as you'd like to be treated"?
Disagreements in the family should stay in the family. Friends should talk to each other privately and not on Facebook, to resolve problems.
There is even a verse that says "love covers sin." It's NOT in anybody's best interest to blast someone's mistake or conflict all over the net for all to see... way too many times there is more to the story, or the story is even wrong -- and seldom after someone's reputation has been wrecked do we see the same publicity given to admitting the error that ruined a life just weeks before.
By this I don't mean someone who is convicted of a horrible deed like rape or robbery or murder. I'm referring to private family/friend things or false accusations that go viral and then just die even after a relationship or reputation is forever ruined.
The Apostle Paul advised us in Philippians, "whatever things are good, ... think on these things." What do you want to fill your mind with? Bad news or good news? I find myself caught up in morbid curiosity, reading posts about the negative things happening in the world, until finally I realize what it's doing to my mood and I just simply stop reading.
My wish for the world in and out of cyberspace, especially this time of year, is that people would think before they say or write their words -- let kindness prevail, and honor privacy.
I'm thankful that my friends and family are kind to each other. To everybody else, try it, you'll feel lots better:)
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