There is a certain blogger that I see popping up online that drives me crazy. I’m not going to tell you who it is, because I really don’t think the world is a better place with him getting extra traffic. He usually chooses a hot topic, draws a moral line in the sand, and then berates and insults those who would disagree with his view. People I know on Facebook are constantly sharing links to his blog posts, and it drives me mental. Surely, they don’t actually share this guy’s attitudes, do they? Let’s just keep it simple, folks. Let’s all remind ourselves of Thumper’s Rule:
“If you can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all!” – Thumper’s Rule
It might seem silly to highlight such a simple quote, but it is truly powerful. We are capable of real abuse using nothing more than our words. Some might reply by saying “But I’m right, aren’t I? That person is being stupid, or ruining their lives, etc etc.” That brings me to my second quote:
“Choose to be kind over being right and you’ll be right every time.” – Richard Carlson
We have this crazy tendency to believe that if we have goodness, righteousness, or even God on our side, we can and even MUST speak up about something. I have witnessed a lot of very good people say very harmful and insensitive things in the name of “being right.” I hope that we all think about the person on the other side of our comments before we say them, and we start worrying more about being kind to each other instead of proving who is right. Nobody wants to listen to someone who is being loud and pushy about their beliefs, no matter what side of the fence you’re on.
So, consider this an invitation to stop and think about Thumper’s Rule before you say something to somebody you disagree with. Feel free to take as much time as you need to say what you need to say in a kind, loving way. If you can’t say it in a nice way, maybe you should think of something nice to say. Here are a few suggestions:
- Good morning!
- I like your hair!
- Nice pants.
- You have a great smile.
- I hope you’re having a great day.
- Good afternoon.
- Good evening.
- That taco salad smells delicious (even if it smells terrible).
- I enjoy that brooch you’re wearing.
- Nice weather we’re having.
- Did you catch the local sports team in their most recent game?
- I appreciate your lack of body odor.
- Your punctual nature is an asset to our team.
- Nothing (seriously, sometimes its best to keep your trap shut).
The possibilities are endless!