I have a bad habit of posting things on the Internet and
then getting the idea that I hurt someone’s feelings with what I said. When I check
in with people about it, I sometimes learn that yes, I really put my foot in
someone’s ass without even meaning to. Other times, my worries were unfounded.
I post things in order to find rapport with others. I hope
that other people can sometimes relate to the things I said and feel better or
learn something helpful.
But here’s where the trouble begins (and where I learn a
valuable lesson): finding connection with some people necessarily means
alienating others, because people are different. So if I state an opinion, I
get people agreeing with me, and others disagreeing. If you read what I write
and immediately feel hurt or alienated by my opinion, I apologize, but I cannot
guarantee I will never say things that will bother you. That’s just how it is.
No one can get through this life without feeling some pain.
In the past, if I feared I’d hurt someone, I would just
avoid posting for a while. Now I realize that no matter how kind or P.C. my
statements may be, there may always be some people who take offense. At the
risk of sounding rude: that’s their problem, not mine.
