Recently
an actor I adore posted on Facebook that he had just avoided getting
into a “someone is wrong on the internet” discussion. If you're
not familiar with that phrase, it's usually used by people who think
that we should avoid getting into comment wars with people with whom
we disagree. Because someone is always "wrong" on the
internet, we shouldn't waste our time and energy arguing with them,
especially since it is unlikely that we will actually change anyone's
mind.
If
you know me at all, you know I disagree with that.
I
think it's really important that I share what I believe to be true,
and what I know. I may not always be right, but I do know that some
statements, ideas, and concepts are without a doubt wrong. I am not
of the school of philosophy that says there is only gray, and no
black and white – although I do realize that there is far more gray
than either extreme. I also know that some people are very strongly
advocating for things I know and/or believe to be wrong –
especially in areas such as human rights, and particularly relating
to children.
Now,
I know sometimes, maybe even most often, people use that phrase to
mean we shouldn't quibble about unimportant things like the exact
wording of a statement or the exact statistic when the posted one was
only a tenth of a percentage off. That, I agree with; it's not a big
deal. But it's also not the kind of thing people usually get into
comment wars over, unless I spend less time on the internet than I
think I do and don't have a fair basis for comparison. Anyway, that's
not my point; that's not what I'm arguing to defend.
I
think it is critical to speak out against things which harm others,
and to advocate for things which benefit others. I think human beings
have a moral obligation to make the world a better place, and while
we all have different ways to do that, sharing what we know is one
way that every person can contribute. I also think it is ridiculous
to sit quietly while people promote inequality, physical violence, or
other equally reprehensible ideas, because there are no
innocent bystanders. If I choose not to speak out, I am
encouraging those who, through word or deed, cause harm to other
people. That includes when people have misguided ideas and just need
the correct information (correct being determined by the most current
research on the topic, and how definitive that research is, not by
opinion).
I
say speak out! Make your voice heard, so it's not just the voices of
the bigots and jerks that seem to form public opinion. You probably
won't change their minds specifically, but you can at least help
other like-minded people know they are not alone, and encourage
people to look into things for themselves. There are a lot of lurkers
on the internet who just might be influenced by your statements,
especially if you share them in a compassionate and logical way. But
if you keep silent when the majority of speakers are against you, you
are not even fighting for equal footing. You are letting them win.
Just
as an FYI, two of the things I think it is critical to speak out
about include equal rights for all human beings and child rearing
techniques. The first, right now, I most often hear discussed in
terms of sexual orientation and marriage law, or rights for women in
other countries (and to a lesser extent, the U.S.). That's important
to me because I have an innate sense of justice which is highly
offended when I see people mistreating others. The second speaks
mostly to ideas regarding physical discipline, with which I disagree
on both a moral and scientific level, and other ideas to a lesser
extent. Child rearing is a particularly important topic to me because
children cannot advocate for themselves, and this is an area in which
I have a lot of education and a lot of experience. I know a lot of
people are struggling to figure out what's right, and a lot of people
are just doing what their parents did without any idea that current
research suggests there might be a better way.
What
do you speak out for or against?
Is
there anything about which you feel passionately, but haven't had the
courage or inclination to discuss online?
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