I’m probably gonna step in something I can’t scrape off my shoe, make somebody mad, maybe even lose a follower or two. Though I would hate the last part (I’m real close w/ most of the folks who are interested enough to follow me), like Gloria Gaynor said, I will survive.
I need someone to please explain to me why people use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc as a way to deal with a personal grievance? If someone posts something on your wall, in your comments, sends you an email, or tweets it to you in a Direct Message (that no one else sees) why is it necessary to bring everyone else who follows/is friends with you and the other person(s) involved into your drama?
I understand that your feelings got hurt, I respect that that you feel insulted and I can appreciate that you feel you’ve been wronged. Do I believe you have the right to confront the person you feel has wronged you? Absolutely; no doubt about that. But do it one on one by whatever means of communication you chose. I don’t think you should challenge them to a duel at dawn, which to me is what online fighting feels like (I have a quote about online fighting, but I won’t use it. Not because it’s not PC, but because it would hurt the feelings of someone I adore). Have I gotten involved in these online soap operas? Yes. Would I take back what I said? No, because I meant what I said; if you hurt someone I care about it gets my hackles up.
The recent episode of “As the Tweet Turns” involves a DM conversation between Jimmy Wayne and another individual (I’m still not totally clear on who said what to whom first) and comments he made regarding someone else….can you see where this slippery slope is taking us? And yes, I slid down it too (yes I asked because I’m nosey like that) and accept any responsibility for stirring the pot.
Honestly, I thought it was over and done with but now more comments are being made, statements being posted that, in my opinion, cast a shadow on the MMH movement which is counterproductive to helping the children. I haven’t been as active of a member of the movement as some. But do you think that making public an altercation between individuals that makes the founder of the movement look bad will help? It may make folks question him & thereby question the organization & movement. Do I think that just because Jimmy’s doing something positive he should get a pass if he does or says something that hurts someone? NO WAY! Call him on it. I have. Don’t believe me? Read this blog I posted as a result of a comment he made that made me mad http://whatsbrandithinking.blogspot.com/2010/01/elephants-are-grey-but-not-all-grey.html I let him know (I can’t remember if it was in a DM or not) but didn’t name him in the post because he was in the process of doing something I believed in & I didn’t wanna run the risk of making him look bad and causing folks to have second thoughts about supporting what he was doing. A couple of messages were exchanged, but I didn’t make a big deal out of it.
I don’t know what transpired or who was involved and honestly (here’s what’s gonna send some folks right over the edge) I don’t care because it’s not my business. What took place did so between two or more adults and if you ask me (an no one did) that’s how it should have stayed. Who brought in a 3rd party? I don’t know and again, not my business. What he’s doing for kids, and what he’s lost because of his dedication to it, is to be admired. The work that has been done and continues to be done by MMH, Unseen Child and organizations/movements like them is too important for slights (real or imagined) or bruised egos (of any/all parties) to cast a negative light on ANY organization.
Did he say or do something that hurt or offended someone? I’m not going to say he did or he didn’t because I wasn’t involved in the initial exchange but I will say this; he’s not perfect…he’s human. As humans we are flawed. We say & do things that hurt folks; some unintentional and some not. I know this because I’ve done both. You get mad and if you’ve got a quick Irish temper like I do, you say/tweet the first thing that comes to mind (I’m learning to control this). Later you may realize that even though you can delete what you posted, but it’s out there baby & you can’t un-ring a bell. If he feels he has or realizes he has then yes, he should apologize. If he doesn’t and apologizes anyway they are just empty words and in my opinion if that’s the case, are better left unsaid.
The thing we have to remember when we admire someone is not to put them on a pedestal. It’s hard not to but speaking as someone who has had someone fall off and who has done the falling, it’s hard to stay up there and it’s a long way down.
When you get down to brass tacks, I buy Jimmy Wayne’s cds, tickets to his shows, came to Twitter and met my TGF’s (for which I am greatly thankful) not because of the work he does for kids, but because Jimmy is a singer, songwriter and a performer and a damn good one. He makes me laugh and he makes me think. That and he’s hot (yes, I’m a little shallow, sue me). Even after what I’ve been told, read, etc I’ll continue to do so without hesitation because I am a fan. That is, if he ever plays a show within driving distance of my hometown again.
