What is wrong with us? How did we become people who take pleasure in tearing down others?
It’s 3 a.m. and I can’t sleep.
The Husband and Indie are curled up in a warm bed probably dreaming about happy things like the start of football season and catching mice.
But I can’t get my mind off the story I wrote yesterday about a local businessman who endured so much online bullying that he was pushed to the brink of suicide.
I’m still not sure what happened to him. I pray he is still alive, surrounded and strengthened by those who love him.
I hope he gets the help he needs and a chance to return to the life and business he built.
I’m angry too. Furiously sick to my stomach that we have become a society that accepts and instigates the kind of behavior that could lead to something like this.
Seriously. What in the heck is wrong with us?
How did we become people who take pleasure in tearing down others?
Don’t like the service or food you get in a restaurant? Fine. Don’t go back.
Don’t like what someone says or believes in? That’s ok. Ignore it.
Every gripe doesn’t have to be played out on social media for the world to see; for businesses to be ruined and lives destroyed.
I hope the people who leveled so much hate against a man who simply opened a restaurant feel some level of shame in the things they wrote. And I hope they never do it again.
Likewise, I hope those who run Facebook pages that encourage this kind of behavior check themselves.
Freedom of speech does not mean that people should be allowed to say anything they want about others without consequence.
And if you think you’re smart enough to be a moderator on one of those pages, then you better be able to exhibit a firm level of responsibility and common sense.
You better have an innate ability to know when someone has crossed the line, and you better have the guts to act on it.
Otherwise, you’re just as guilty.
So, what now?
I have no idea if Shooterz Scratch Kitchen will reopen, but if and when it does, I hope this community shows up in droves to offer support.
And if diners have something nice to say about the experience, I hope they do.
And if they don’t, I hope they keep their f*****g mouths shut.
Well written. Thank you Sarah
Administrators of social network comment pages should be encouraged to delete those comments and ban the users.
Great article!
I was shocked after reading your first article. I agree and support everything you said in this follow-up article.
We learned many good lessons as toddlers and pre-schoolers:
Don't like something? You have many choices including:
keeping your mouth shut, your hands to yourself, and going somewhere, or doing something else. Be kind, and others will be kind to you, and we all will be better for it.
Yes, I hope he reopens his restaurant and the community turns out in support.
I hope pastors and religious leaders talk with their congregations and young people about lessons in this tragedy. I hope school counselors and teachers support and encourage positive interactions among their students. I hope families and…