I’ve been thing about writing and commenting online lately. Probably more than most, I have a history of mixing it up and leaving a comment or three that left heads spinning. In the past year, I’ve made a move to practice more loving (or benevolent) speech online.
Choosing to invest in kinder speech, and to not leave a path of strife on the interwebs requires mindfulness and acceptance of my character defects. I don’t pull punches. When it comes to tough discussions, I fight to win. That means someone’s going to be upset most of the time.
Geoff Livingston on Google+
Amending Online Wrongs Takes a Long Time
Image by Blake Reed
As someone who delivered more than his fair share of snarky, forceful contrarian opinion about people and brands in online conversations, I believe this behavior harms communities.
Having alienated readers, friends and business interests alike with this behavior, I’ve made a concerted effort to change.
But people don’t forget so easily, as a couple of commenters reminded me in response to this week’s Cathryn Sloane post.
My conclusion: It takes a long time to amend “douchebaggery.”
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