Hello, friends. This post is rather atypical of what I usually
write about. But I thought it was very relevant in our associations with
people on the Internet–particularly in a social setting.. In a
roundabout way, this would apply to communicating with other writers,
agents and publishers. I thought it was important because I see so much
of it. I’m sure you do too.
Drawing a comparison to penpals and dating sites:
So you found somebody you like on the Internet. That other person likes
you. You just started something wonderful that excites and fulfills
you. You might even develop a symbiotic love for each other. A man might
be searching for that electronic girl friend. You know, a cyber
cutie–an email female–that pixel princess? A woman might be looking for
that goofy Gmail guy, that Internet intellectual, that cuddly computer
hunk.
Why is it that we can say the meanest and most cruel things to each
other in Internet emails? Words that sting, doubt, question, threaten,
accuse, belittle–name your poison. It’s because we think we can spout
off and avoid any confrontation. We don’t need to own our
words. We are detached. Even phone calls to potential mates can become
heated and cause disagreements, ending in short or long-term rejection.
The calamity can happen quickly, unexpectedly. It can happen as a result
of a simple miscommunication. A few words interpreted the wrong way can
start a firestorm of anger and hatred. You can commit a word-slip and
hurt someone’s feelings without knowing it. So it is with a social media
setting. Only it could involve regular posters, comments, and private
messages. We’ve all been attacked in one form(um) or another. I know
that I have taken some insufferable abuse online. I’ve been
stalked–hunted down like some dog that needs to be shot. It tore me to
pieces. Being critically ill, the last thing I need is misplaced and
deliberate damnation from a friend or even someone I hardly know.
It helps if you remember that people always look for the best in
others regardless of most circumstances. All human beings seek
peace—they all want shelter, sustenance, good health and a loving
family. These are universal expectations and truths that every human
being on this planet strives for. We are all connected, like an
umbilical cord that has not been severed. Like a mother and baby, we can
feed off each other and attain the nourishment of life. The more we
feed, the more we grow.
Here’s no surprise: people deal with each other exceptionally well
face-to-face. They are too busy scoping out characteristics and admiring
the presence of another, hopefully seeking out an interesting human
being. They are polite and respectful, and desirous of learning and
becoming close to the other person. They oft times want to share and
travel. They are curious about the wonders of life’s nature and feel
comforted when they search out the wonders together. BTW, nature is a
prime magnet for discovery. Wonder and discovery brings people together
in such an innocent vein. People don’t do so good when they are
physically detached from each other. There is a massive hole in the
relationship. The love and respect core is missing. The Information
Highway can have some disastrous head-on collisions.
Contra-wise, there is a certain thrill upon meeting your
virtual friend/s face-to-face. It is the last step in the process of
bonding together, and it is necessary to complete the cycle. It is
crucial. True, unconditional love cannot flourish unless two bodies meet
and merge in a slow and mutual relationship. People can read magical
compatibility in the eyes of another. The eyes never lie. Without
meeting in the flesh, you are blind and unaware of spiritual truth.
“What God has brought together, let no man separate.” That means a
physical union where it is eventually intended, friends. And guess what?
Two souls can merge into each other and plug up some very big holes.
Disputes can be settled easily if a calm dialogue is opened up.
Some of the worst case insults and fights I’ve seen are in the
comment sections on the YouTube movie or documentary channels. Take your
pick, it could be any movie network or discussion site. I’ve never seen
more foul and racist language than I have on these commentary sites.
It’s the lowest, dirtiest swearing I’ve ever seen/heard. It can be two
groups of posters–the pros vs the cons. It can be group swarm attacks on
a few or individual posters. You could swear that the floodgates of
hell have opened up and let loose. What kind of damaging effects can
this have on someone’s psychological persona? It can have a devastating
effect, even terminal. We have all heard of the cyber-bullying that has
taken place within the younger crowd and resulted in suicides. This is
how deadly the freedom of speech issue can evolve. Notwithstanding, the
depression and anxiety it causes can contribute to existing terminally
ill afflictions and depression.
My suggestion to all of you on the electronic airwaves is to be
kind, understanding and tolerant of your friend/friends, even though
they might raise the bristles on the back of your neck. If things begin
to break down because of suspicion and mistrust, stop right there and
discuss the problem honestly and out in the open with gentle, soothing,
kind words. Discussion is the triage for minor or major differences. Or
would you prefer a major trauma when things have gotten too far out of
hand? The choice is yours. If you don’t confront your differences in
good spirits, you might lose the potential love or friend of your life.
The other alternative is to ignore the comments completely, and this is
sage advice for bad reviews and nasty comments on Amazon. Us poor
writers!
Sending explicit photographs through the airwaves is a whole
different ballgame, but it falls within the territory of censorship and
invasion of privacy. Just don’t do it. Both women and men use this
tactic to draw favoritism, in such a twisted way, that it is insulting,
crude and lewd. This isn’t the kind of example adults should set for the
little ones or the underage.
Try laughter and jokes to salve some of your disagreements. Humor
takes the edge off and delivers some needed comedy relief…Or else? Or
else you might end up needlessly heartbroken and feeling alone. Learn to
forgive and heal. Redemption is a precious commodity that everyone can
afford. It costs nothing to put love and kindness first over mistrust
and negativity. Remember the song: “Accentuate the positive, eliminate
the negative”, theme from Blast to the Past. Yeah, corny., I know.
Live easy and love hard.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Monday, October 14, 2019
Halloween Bash Give-Away!
Halloween Bash
Give-Away! Three Signed Paperbacks, 12 Handcrafted Dream Catchers, Free
E-Books, And A Questions and Answer Contest Starting Today And Running Until
Oct 31rst. Don’t Miss This Screamcatcher Surprise sponsored by Christy J.
Breedlove & Crystal Gauthier! Here’s
The Link:
https://authormigrainecentral.blogspot.com/2019/10/screamcatcher-web-world-halloween.html
SCREAMCATCHER - WEB WORLD HALLOWEEN GIVEAWAY!
WE ALL LOVE A GIVEAWAY!
Book giveaways are the best!
Author Christy J. Breedlove
We are offering up some author personalized/signed Paperbacks and some Awesome dream catchers for the winners of this
Multiple Choice Contest.
(knowledge of the book)
All you have to do is... you must have read the book in some form whether it be ebook or paperback. Then answer some questions, that's it!
How fun right?
LINK TO GIVEAWAY QUESTIONS
https://form.jotform.com/92805901827159https://form.jotform.com/92805901827159
When
seventeen-year-old Jory Pike cannot shake the hellish nightmares of her
parent's deaths, she turns to an old family heirloom, a dream catcher.
Even though she's half blood Chippewa, Jory thinks old Indian lore is so
yesterday, but she's willing to give it a try. However, the dream
catcher has had its fill of nightmares from an ancient and violent past.
After a sleepover party, and during one of Jory's most horrific dream
episodes, the dream catcher implodes, sucking Jory and her three friends
into its own world of trapped nightmares. They're in an alternate
universe-locked inside of an insane web world. How can they find the
center of the web, where all good things are allowed to pass?
Ebook:
Paperback:
STUDY UP FOLKS!
Here is the link to visit to answer the question, see when the contest starts and ends, when we will pick winners.
Crystal L. Gauthier, Literary Agent
Proudly represents Author Christy J. Breedlove
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