7 July 2014

Kindness is the new Mean!

07 July 2014
Kindness is the new Mean!
A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or people wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual person or people. The phrase may have been coined by Anne Herbert, who says that she wrote “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” on a place mat at a Sausalito restaurant in 1982 or 1983. Is the internet making us more kind? Is it no longer ok to bully the weaker person?

Over the past few years there has been an increase in the use of social media for social justice and not for just atrocities (an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury.) But for everyday social injustice done on the common man. This weekend there was an interview conducted by CNN correspondent anchor Fredericka Whitfield, the interview Saturday was to talk about her new book, but ended up yanking out her earpiece in the middle of the interview and storming off set instead. Online headlines read ” Joan Rivers Tells CNN Reporter To ‘Shut Up’ And Storms Off Set”

Fredericka Whitfield, who had suggested that her “Fashion Police” commentary was “mean.” Shortly after this Joan Rivers had had enough and abruptly exited the interview. While I do enjoy Joan Rivers comedy, I can sort of see the point of the interviewer. If you are gonna dish it out then you should at least be able to take it. With the changing of the guard in late night television it is pretty clear that “Mean” is out and “Kind” is in. It is no longer socially acceptable to be the bully in the school yard. Words hurt and scare just as much as sticks and stones. I think those days of making others feel bad for the sake of entertainment have come to an end. I mean think about it if you want to a party and dressed up in what you felt was an amazing outfit and all of your friends told you that you look fantastic and then after the party it was broadcast all over the media that you were voted “Worst dressed” think that would hurt at least a bit.

This thing is we know better now, years ago we might be able to laugh it off and say “I was just kidding” or “Didn’t mean to hurt your feeling’s” but now we know that it does hurt people’s feelings and it is just mean and unnecessary. While I do feel that we should develop a thick skin because life is tough at times and you need a back bone to get through it successfully . It is no longer okay to belittle someone just for the entertainment of others.

“Your greatness is measured by your kindness; your education and intellect by your modesty; your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices, and your real caliber is measured by the consideration and tolerance you have for others.”
– William J.H. Boetcker
“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.”
—Bob Kerrey
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