We live in an age of instantaneous outrage, in which we can no longer express displeasure with one reprehensible act unless we express equal displeasure with ALL morally reprehensible acts. We – particularly those of us in the Twitterverse – pounce on injustice like Boss Hogg on a honey-glazed ham. Then others pounce on us because we chose the ham and not their pet object of derision and moral outrage.
A dentist killed a lion? But did you know about “X”? Why aren’t you railing against “X”?
Let’s think for a moment how it would work if we were to apply the same all-or-nothing standard to our likes?
“I like bacon.”
“What? You like bacon? What about cheese? What have you got against cheese?”
Sigh …
Look, a man did an incredibly dickish thing. Yes, yes, I know, other men are, at this very moment, also doing incredibly dickish things, but they’ll just have to wait their turn.
Why?
First, because if I allow myself to become some sort of Gatling Gun of moral outrage, then rage will consume me, and I don’t want that. It’s not good for me or those around me. And if we all do it, it’s really not good for the world we live in.
But second, and more importantly, because I just suck at multitasking.
Well said, as always. There are too many good things in this world to become so preoccupied with the negative. That is not to say they should be ignored! I love reading your blogs.
Hi Cal! What is the best email address to reach you? (i supplied mine for this comment). I ask because my co-author and I would like to quote a tweet you shared a couple of months ago (about the demise of Google Reader) in a book that is being published next Spring by Jossey-Bass/Wiley. I can share the excerpt with you via email and then, permission willing, would request that you sign a release form to use the quote. Can you please let me know what you think? thanks!
Sorry for leaving this inquiry as a comment to this post (maybe you can hate this today :))
reshan
Sorry, Reshan. My blog, for some reason, didn’t notify me of your request. I sent you an email. I don’t even remember what the tweet said, but I have not objection to you using it. Thanks for having the courtesy to ask.
I remember you as a competent multitasker when you taught @YRHS. Father Time catching up to you?
Smart and humorous… a nice combination