Presenting yet another gem from the heartland of the Internet — Facebook.
This is classic irresponsible bullshit by people who figure that they have the right to shoot off their mouths, write drivel on public forums, and bear no responsibility for the results of their actions. These are the same people who would probably think shouting “fire” in a theater was funny and if people panic and are injured or killed, it’s not their fault.
FYI, I made a good faith effort to find a synonym for bullshit and discovered there really isn’t any. If you find a good synonym, I’d like to hear it.
Here’s what I think.
You are responsible. For what you say and for making sure you are understood. For what you write and how you write it.
You are morally required to make a good faith effort to speak and write the truth in such a way that others can understand it. You need to be sure what you say makes sense. If you aren’t responsible, who is? If you write a pack of lies, or half-truths, or rumors — exactly who is responsible but you for whatever misunderstanding will inevitably result?
Everyone is responsible. You may not be able to 100% control how others understand, but you can make your best effort to be honest, to double-check facts, and explain what you mean as clearly as possible.
The casual, widespread attitude that it’s okay to say or do anything and if other people don’t like it or “get it,” too bad for them is the definition of what is wrong with our society. We act irresponsibly, refuse to admit mistakes. Like little children, we blame everyone else, then wonder why we can’t trust anyone.
If all of us refuse to accept responsibility for our own actions and statements, why should anyone be more trustworthy than we are? If “it’s not my fault” is going to be our national motto, when you hear that flapping sound, it’s your chickens coming home to roost. The result will be that we will live in a world where nothing anyone says or does can be trusted because honesty has been replaced by bullshit.
It really is the writer or speaker’s responsibility to communicate. It is not the responsibility of your listener to decipher your poorly written and badly expressed language.
It’s not a heartwarming thought.
Related articles
- Call Them On Their Bullshit (heartgoddessart.wordpress.com)
- The Art of Stretching the Truth (news.terra.com)
December 5, 2012 at 2:01 am
Bovine excrement…?
December 5, 2012 at 10:51 am
Horse pucky.
December 5, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Thank you Colonel Potter…..
December 5, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Love that show!
December 4, 2012 at 6:04 pm
“Craposis” – is that a word? Here is my favorite line of your article: If “it’s not my fault” is going to be our national motto, when you hear that flapping sound, it’s your chickens coming home to roost. That is exactly why I LOVE your blog…no flim, no flam, no bullshit or should I say craposis? Did a geek enter your world today?
December 4, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Craposis may possibly be a good name for our national disease. We being smothered by mountains of bullshit!!! Help!
This is probably why my family finds I’m not the sweet old granny they had in mind. I can cook up a storm, but apparently cuisine isn’t enough.
I wonder why people say chickens can’t fly? They fly fine and will roost in trees, if you let them. Does that have a deeper meaning?
December 5, 2012 at 2:18 am
Maybe chickens are smarter than we think and simply choose not to fly…, or they’re really dumb and have no idea what they’re in for later. But, one day “HE” will come.., he will stand atop the coop.., he will speak beautifully, eloquently and warn the villagers of the impending doom. He will encourage them to bone up (no pun intended) on their flying skills. The hens will swoon, listening to the sweet sounds of his melodious clucking, but thinking, only, of “eggs”. Sadly, in spite of his good looks and strong message, his voice will fall on deaf ears.
Here comes Farmer John.., and what’s that shiny thing in his hand…?
December 5, 2012 at 10:51 am
There are chickens and then, there are CHICKENS. The farmer around the corner has the usual laying hens and the odd rooster or three, but he also has decorative chickens that he apparentl keeps just because they’re pretty. They seem to be little less empty-headed than the others. They were all free ranging until lately when I think he was losing a lot to local wildlife … the coyotes, foxes, fishers and bobcats are becoming more brazen and increasingly less afraid of people and dogs. And he feed the wild turkeys, too, so there are alway a bunch of these iconic but totally moronic birds hanging around, ready to attack you and your car. Man, those are dumb birds!
Yes, in this world, should HE or SHE show up, speak the words we long to hear, some gun nut would problem assassinate him/her. I loan my computer out on its off hours to SETI. They are still busily seeking intelligent life out in space. But who is seeking it here on earth? Is there any? If we found the aliens, would they be willing to have anything to do with us? So many questions, so little time.