A while back I discovered Twitter, just before the big boom with Ashton Whatshisname and Oprah.  I "follow" about 60 some people, some of which I am not ashamed to admit are considered "celebrities".  Mind you, my choices of who to follow though are based on the thought provoking "tweets" they post, as well as the genuine ability to make me laugh.

Among those celebrity Twitterers I follow is author Neil Gaiman.  When he posts a link, you can bet I will click it, because I feel that his links are never a waste of time.  This more recent one is no exception.

"neilhimself Dear (fightforyourrightobookburn) Christian Civil Liberties Union, whatever side you're on, I am now on the other one: http://bit.ly/twerps"

Unbelievable.  Book burning.  A lawsuit to demand the right to burn and ban a library book.  I thought those days were long gone.  If you don't like it DON'T READ IT!!  If you don't want your kids reading it then that's your business and up to you to enforce that (ha), but to deny others... GRRRRR!!!! 

Then, just as I was recovering from that, I heard about this on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me from this past weekend.

Oh My GOSH! HELLO!!>???????

There are no words to describe what I'm thinking right now.  Well, polite words that is.

Really, I just sat there dumbfounded when they were talking about it on Wait Wait, then of course I laughed at the "Heaven-O!" and their musings that workers might rebel by saying, "Heaven-O, how may I HELLp you?"

Seriously though, WTH?

Ok, gonna stop the rant now.  Feel free to chime in with your thoughts.

Oh, and if you to have a Twitter account, feel free to stop by and say Hello!  :-)

http://twitter.com/MetzDarling

PS:  I've also fallen in with the facebook crowd, http://www.facebook.com/Metzdarling

 PPS:  Forgot to add this very important public service message from Neil Gaiman as well.

"neilhimself No! Do not arm squirrels! They will take over the world if you do. http://bit.ly/1950k"

I posted this a long time ago (wow about a year ago I just realized) on my old blog at my personal website www.metzdarling.com (where I put my short stories & poems).

Some of the recent nasty turns the commentroversies on CO lately have made me really really want to post this in its entirety in response.  BUT I already write WAY too many paragraphs that get ignored by the nasties so I know its a waste of space on Meg's site to try and shout against all that hot air.  Without further ado I'll post it HERE so I can at least preach to the choir.  ;-D

Why the Jury is always out in the Court of Public Opinion

Before sharing your point of view with the rest of the world, remember this: In the Court of Public Opinion, we are all Judges and all Defendants, judging while simultaneously being judged. In other words, everyone’s opinion is right, and at the same time, everyone’s opinion is wrong. We’ve all got our own little parcel of belief to defend. No need to insult or degrade anyone for having a different thought than yours. It’s ok. You’re right and they’re wrong; and they’re right and you’re wrong.

In the end, positive actions and debating with words work so much better to meet one’s goals. There is a difference between debating (or arguing), and just squabbling over who’s right or wrong about the issue. (And if you still don’t know who’s right or wrong then refer back to the first paragraph in this essay.)

Debate: “…a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints…” debate. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved August 30, 2006, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=debate

Debate brings unknown subjects to the forefront; debate gives you an opportunity to share your point of view along with facts and other supporting arguments. Debate allows people who are close to or on the fence in that matter to make the important decision of where their own opinion will follow. (It has even been known on occasion to bring someone over to the “other side” of the fence) In the Court of Public Opinion, debate is a powerful tool, when it is used in a well thought out and controlled manner.

Squabble: Definitions are similar to the words argue and even debate with one word difference: “petty”. Indicating that the source of the fight is not worth the battle being waged. Squabble: “…to engage in a petty quarrel…” squabble.(n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved August 30, 2006, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=squabble

A lot of chat room and message board arguments compare to typical schoolyard squabbling. I am of the opinion that this ball is mine. You are of the opinion it is yours. We argue back and forth, escalating in the usual dramatic fashion, ending with you bopping me on the head and walking away with the ball. You’ve the satisfaction of winning; you’ve shown me you’re stronger and smarter than me, by bludgeoning me with your words, telling me that I am stupid for believing what I believe. Then forcing me to agree that the ball is yours, simply because you’re stronger than me and can bop me on the head with it. This is always a sure fire way of getting someone to agree with you, right? Just what other people want to hear, that they are stupid, or ignorant, or worse. Perfect way to open them up to seeing your point of view.

Meanwhile, out there in the rest of the playground (world) there’s someone who saw what happened and they have a different opinion than either one of us. Someone who is now either embarrassed to know they think the same as you and keeps quiet (one less voice for your cause), or someone who thinks it’s ok to do the same to the next person they come across that dares to disagree with them, or someone else who may have initially agreed with you but now simply because they did not like your actions will go in another direction entirely. Sure it doesn’t make sense, if their opinion is set a certain way, how can the actions of another change it? But it can, and it does, every day.

Then there are the ones who agreed with me, they might become even more vocal for their cause, enabling them to use this incident as another example of why your side is wrong. And of course others still, who may switch sides to you because my “weakness” bothered them.

Don’t forget the many, many others who either simply don’t care, or have another opinion entirely. Maybe per them, the ball is theirs. So they approach you and do the same, beating you with words, insults, etc… before finally resorting to showing their strength by bopping you on the head and walking away with the ball. In the world view of people who act this way, anyone who disagrees with them is insulting them; and if they dare insult them by not only disagreeing privately but also publicly airing this “other” viewpoint, well then, they deserve everything they’ve got coming to them.

Points of view are just that. They are how you see the world and what’s going on in it. What you see is different from what I see. What I see is different from what the person next to me sees. This is true everywhere we go. Even all the people united against or for one particular thing are all bringing to that cause their own unique points of view. That’s what makes it even more special and spectacular about public debate and the Court of Public Opinion. We’re all learning, every day. We all grow in our own unique ways and directions. No one person has the right to tell us what our beliefs should or should not be. The only time that right is deservedly restricted is when our beliefs harm others. Period.

I know I’m right. Of course, you know I’m completely wrong about all of this.