Thank you, so much for this much needed post! I am so with you on it all! And your piece--it really shows the pain lies cause. I'm so grateful that you sent it our way!
I left Twitter shortly after Musk took over. If you are managing to keep your stream calm, that’s great. Somehow I never could, and I was following mostly writers 🤷🏼♀️ As with almost all social media, I get tired of the ads, the extra steps I have to take to see only what I want to see. Yes, I know it’s all free (although I guess with X you can pay for a privileged status?) so (supposedly) I shouldn’t complain. In the early days of SM, I was naive enough to think that people could have discourse, actually discuss issues. No more. I got flamed a couple of times (and I’ll take full responsibility for one of those times because I let my anger get the better of me (I lost the argument, by the way 😉), and now I tend to move on when I see something that upsets me and only respond when I see something that makes me smile. I have to be careful because I didn’t get a thicker skin by being bullied at school. I think it got thinner so I have to tread lightly in SM.
Unfortunately, some writers were the worst of the flamethrowers. And it was always the same ones. Tbh, I’m glad they left Twitter. Yes, every SM platform has its jerks so we have to find ways to ignore them and focus on the positive voices. Marie, it’s so weird how people who disagree can’t even talk to each other in a civil way anymore, at least on SM. I believe people in their personal lives still do. My husband had a friend since childhood who was the complete opposite of him politically but they had lively debates and had a close and respectful relationship until the day he died. It is possible for reasonable people to do this. I’m sorry to hear you were bullied in school. It’s something that never leaves you, isn’t it? God bless you, Marie!
Grateful for the folks that step back and see things differently...I feel crazy sometimes seeing people be so hypocritical and not realizing it...Anyway, thanks for this note today. I'm still haunted by the one cool girl athlete that shoved me one time in the aisle and called me a lesbiab. I had never spoken to her. Lots of love to you and warmth today.
Thanks for your comments. It’s so good to hear from people who’ve been bullied. Also, good to hear from open-minded people who give grace to all. Love & warmth back atcha!
I've not been on twitter so I don't know about all that at all, but yeah, it would be nice if folks could extend each other a little bit of grace and give each other the benefit of the doubt. I've quit following a lot of public intellectuals/influencers who have nothing going on but the critique and the call outs and their community is their clique. People who are actually doing things & trying to be the change (e.g., making art, volunteering in their communities, etc), I've noticed those people are much more nuanced in their thinking because their commentary is grounded in the messy & complex reality of everyday life.
Brandy, you put it so well saying, “ People who are actually doing things & trying to be the change (e.g., making art, volunteering in their communities, etc), I've noticed those people are much more nuanced in their thinking because their commentary is grounded in the messy & complex reality of everyday life.”
Those are the people I admire. I don’t understand the mindset of extremists on both sides of the ideological spectrum that appear to want to fight, blame, and lecture. And don’t get me started on public “intellectuals/influencers”. Lord.
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate the grace and nuance you bring to your pov. XO
The cancel culture (particularly during the pandemic) seemed to coincide with a few lit mags that have also vanished, taking writers/artists work along with them. 🤔 I’m feeling fresher air over in the original blue bird and if I choose to seek out politics (which I will) well, I will 🤣. Mostly though, I like the quirky stuff like Derek Guy, the menswear guy, so fun. I limit media to the AP and Ground News , an aggregator which reflects the bias a news report is slanted. I appreciate all those who stay/stayed strong at the former blue. (Imagine folks, if you had to watch EM’s satellites launch several days a month or his Brightline zip by your neighborhood 32 times a day -that’s a real impact on one’s quality of life. We can’t get away from this guy on the FL Space Coast! Thanks for this post, Charlotte!
I wish I could say I felt fresher air at the blue place but I don’t. And, tbh, I’m appalled by some of the disparaging remarks made by some writers I admired toward entire demographics. I don’t trust anyone that close-minded and I certainly don’t admire them. Obviously, they think anyone who reads their SM is just like them. No. People are complex with complex reasons for their beliefs. Because they don’t agree with you doesn’t make them evil or uneducated. What a simplistic & ignorant pov! I’m sorry, I realize I’m ranting. I’m just so disenchanted with so many writers right now. I’m thankful for your friendship, Sheree, and your kindness and open mind. XO
Thank you, so much for this much needed post! I am so with you on it all! And your piece--it really shows the pain lies cause. I'm so grateful that you sent it our way!
I’m glad, too! And, yay for the hostage release!! Praying for all the others to come home safely and soon!
I left Twitter shortly after Musk took over. If you are managing to keep your stream calm, that’s great. Somehow I never could, and I was following mostly writers 🤷🏼♀️ As with almost all social media, I get tired of the ads, the extra steps I have to take to see only what I want to see. Yes, I know it’s all free (although I guess with X you can pay for a privileged status?) so (supposedly) I shouldn’t complain. In the early days of SM, I was naive enough to think that people could have discourse, actually discuss issues. No more. I got flamed a couple of times (and I’ll take full responsibility for one of those times because I let my anger get the better of me (I lost the argument, by the way 😉), and now I tend to move on when I see something that upsets me and only respond when I see something that makes me smile. I have to be careful because I didn’t get a thicker skin by being bullied at school. I think it got thinner so I have to tread lightly in SM.
Unfortunately, some writers were the worst of the flamethrowers. And it was always the same ones. Tbh, I’m glad they left Twitter. Yes, every SM platform has its jerks so we have to find ways to ignore them and focus on the positive voices. Marie, it’s so weird how people who disagree can’t even talk to each other in a civil way anymore, at least on SM. I believe people in their personal lives still do. My husband had a friend since childhood who was the complete opposite of him politically but they had lively debates and had a close and respectful relationship until the day he died. It is possible for reasonable people to do this. I’m sorry to hear you were bullied in school. It’s something that never leaves you, isn’t it? God bless you, Marie!
Grateful for the folks that step back and see things differently...I feel crazy sometimes seeing people be so hypocritical and not realizing it...Anyway, thanks for this note today. I'm still haunted by the one cool girl athlete that shoved me one time in the aisle and called me a lesbiab. I had never spoken to her. Lots of love to you and warmth today.
Thanks for your comments. It’s so good to hear from people who’ve been bullied. Also, good to hear from open-minded people who give grace to all. Love & warmth back atcha!
I've not been on twitter so I don't know about all that at all, but yeah, it would be nice if folks could extend each other a little bit of grace and give each other the benefit of the doubt. I've quit following a lot of public intellectuals/influencers who have nothing going on but the critique and the call outs and their community is their clique. People who are actually doing things & trying to be the change (e.g., making art, volunteering in their communities, etc), I've noticed those people are much more nuanced in their thinking because their commentary is grounded in the messy & complex reality of everyday life.
Brandy, you put it so well saying, “ People who are actually doing things & trying to be the change (e.g., making art, volunteering in their communities, etc), I've noticed those people are much more nuanced in their thinking because their commentary is grounded in the messy & complex reality of everyday life.”
Those are the people I admire. I don’t understand the mindset of extremists on both sides of the ideological spectrum that appear to want to fight, blame, and lecture. And don’t get me started on public “intellectuals/influencers”. Lord.
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate the grace and nuance you bring to your pov. XO
The cancel culture (particularly during the pandemic) seemed to coincide with a few lit mags that have also vanished, taking writers/artists work along with them. 🤔 I’m feeling fresher air over in the original blue bird and if I choose to seek out politics (which I will) well, I will 🤣. Mostly though, I like the quirky stuff like Derek Guy, the menswear guy, so fun. I limit media to the AP and Ground News , an aggregator which reflects the bias a news report is slanted. I appreciate all those who stay/stayed strong at the former blue. (Imagine folks, if you had to watch EM’s satellites launch several days a month or his Brightline zip by your neighborhood 32 times a day -that’s a real impact on one’s quality of life. We can’t get away from this guy on the FL Space Coast! Thanks for this post, Charlotte!
I wish I could say I felt fresher air at the blue place but I don’t. And, tbh, I’m appalled by some of the disparaging remarks made by some writers I admired toward entire demographics. I don’t trust anyone that close-minded and I certainly don’t admire them. Obviously, they think anyone who reads their SM is just like them. No. People are complex with complex reasons for their beliefs. Because they don’t agree with you doesn’t make them evil or uneducated. What a simplistic & ignorant pov! I’m sorry, I realize I’m ranting. I’m just so disenchanted with so many writers right now. I’m thankful for your friendship, Sheree, and your kindness and open mind. XO
❤️