Re-Building the Rudedawg, One Day at a Time

[Sazerac]

Bravo, Rudy! Bravo! You go, man! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I certainly hope this positive trend affects others here as well. There are a LOT of people here who could use a good dose of positive attitude. Too much negativity here at IW lately.

Cheers,
-Sazerac

[RudeDawg]

Originally posted by Sazerac: Bravo, Rudy! Bravo! You go, man! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] I certainly hope this positive trend affects others here as well. There are a LOT of people here who could use a good dose of positive attitude. Too much negativity here at IW lately. Cheers, -Sazerac

Thank you, Saz. That was certainly (Sir Tainly? anybody seen him lately?) unexpected. Thanks.

I think everyone can use a good dose of positive attitude. I just wish I had started this last year.

Today's topic:

Day Two: Finding the Innocence in Others

If you've checked the links in my (and Jo's) sig, you know that we are the keepers of two adorable rabbits. One of the main differences between rabbits and most other pets is the predator/prey instinct. Rabbits are prey animals. they pose no threat or danger to any other living creature. They are pure herbivores. (OK, sice plants are alive, I guess they "hunt" plants. [img]smile.gif[/img] ) As such. they tend to be easily frightened.

This scenario repeats itself at least once a week: I tend to carry my food and drink to my desk, usually while carrying on a conversation with Jo. Fiver (the white/grey bunny) will hop towards me (he's curious, and probably wants to play) and get tangled up in my feet. While dancing and trying not to step on him, I drop something. I've dropped food, games, CDs, and other things. The saddest thing is that Fiver gets extremely frightened by this. In his mind, He feels like he was attacked by a predator (shaped like my feet) and he will run off, hide and huddle, shaking in fear.

Fiver was not planning to make me drop something. he was not the agent of an insidious plan to forestall my dinner. He didn't "set out" to foil my plans. He was being playful, and being a bunny. He was being innocent.

How often have read a thread, been offended by a post, and shot off a scathing reply. Feeling smug about the biting remark, we return later to read a reply stating "I'm sorry. That wasn't at all what I meant. In fact, I agree with you." The sad truth is, the other person would usually fire back, and it may escalate into a flame war. Often times, the ashes left had nothing to do with the original post.

As I've pointed out in ages past, I've been an active 'Net junkie for nearly 20 years. Back before the Web, we used e-mail, and IRC to chat. Flame wars existed even then. The saddest part about it is how it negatively affects the other board inhabitants. I've watched my favorite boards shut down, one-by-one, until I was pointed here.

IW mods have protected this boards wonderfully. (Great job, guys!) But, how much easier would it be if we all were part of the solution, not part of the problem.

I submit this idea. Just because you have the right to post something, doesn't mean it is right to post something. Just because you have the right to say something, doesn't mean it is right to say something. Just because you have the right to do something, doesn't mean it is right to do something.

Example: I notice grammar and spelling. I've been reminded by others that the 'Net is international, and so it is not easy to spell and use the rules of grammar in a non-native language. Instead of quickly posting corrections, or a flame, it feels great to sit back and feel happy that someone has made the effort to post here. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I've been avoiding posting to threads that are about important subjects to me. I'm trying to understand other people's viewpoint, and not take things as a personal attack on my belief system. You know, I've developed a healthy respect for certain individuals, who, just weeks ago, I was very offended by.

Seek the innocence in other people, their actions, and their views. Assume that everyone is trying to help you. Assume that everyone is looking for your happiness, and we will find it easier in our life.

Thank you for reading.
Tomorrow: the Power of Choice. See you here. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[FelixJaeger]

wow man that sounds like a challenge, but one im willing to partake in, seriously tho it sounds like a good challenge.
Felix

[Charean]

This is a marvelous thought. One of the best things, and something I pointed out to a friend of mine, is that this board - and life - is an opportunity for growth.

Think about it. Ever moment we have choices - and every moment we can CHOOSE to be better than we were. Posting on this board, we make a choice. To post, what to post, what our attitude when we post will be.

I choose to be positive as well.

I stayed away from the board - didn't even lurk - because I forgot that I can CHOOSE to be happy and positive regardless of what is around me. It is a matter of how I perceive what is there. My opinions don't really matter if they are to my detriment. For my own sanity, I need to be happy and to grow. So every moment, I will choose to see the good.

And in seeing the innocence, remembering that others have different experiences and perceptions, I will assume that people don't mean me harm and will act accordingly. It will certainly be easier than to be angry all the time. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Cerek the Barbaric]

This is an absolutely WONDERFUL thread, RudeDawg. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

And I agree that we ALL can benefit from it. As pointed out, there has been a lot of "heated" [img]graemlins/1pissed.gif[/img] threads lately, with the members trying to "prove thier side is right" rather than just enjoying an exchange of ideals and values. [img]graemlins/fight.gif[/img] I think we can all benefit from looking at a topic from a different point of view. [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]

If somebody disagrees with you, just accept it. Let's agree to disagree in a respectful manner. [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img]

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Originally posted by RudeDawg: [QB I submit this idea. Just because you have the right to post something, doesn't mean it is right to post something. Just because you have the right to say something, doesn't mean it is right to say something. Just because you have the right to do something, doesn't mean it is right to do something. [/QB]

That very much sounds like 'just becasue you CAN do something, doesnt mean you SHOULD', hmm, an interesting read, good luck to you!

[RudeDawg]

Originally posted by FelixJaeger: wow man that sounds like a challenge, but one im willing to partake in, seriously tho it sounds like a good challenge. Felix

It is a challenge, Felix. I think it's worth it, though.

As many folks here, my education leaned on the technical / engineering side. So this example always sticks with me: Electricity flows towards the negative charged post (ground). It will always go toward the negative point in comparison to where it is. (OK, this is a simplistic explanation, but it a simile, not a thesis. )

I think most folks are like this, naturally. We gravitate toward the negative aspects of our life. I also believe that this is a learned tendency.

I'm trying to switch that. I want to look to the positive side. Join me.

[RudeDawg]

Originally posted by Calaethis Dragonsbane: That very much sounds like 'just becasue you CAN do something, doesnt mean you SHOULD', hmm, an interesting read, good luck to you!

That's it, in a nutshell. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] Thanks ! You said it better than I did.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

you're welcome...anytime, and good luck to you!

[Sazerac]

You know, I had to take a two-week break from this board because it was stressing me out so much, it was affecting my health. Memnoch and Mouse very kindly pulled my load during that time, and I thank them greatly.

I'm sincere when I say I am thrilled to see attitudes beginning to change. All too often it is so easy to just automatically assume that the other person is attacking you. Thing is, I doubt they actually treat others that way face-to-face. I would add to the "Seek the innocence in others" with "Act as if the other person is directly in front of you." People, I believe, are less prone to be that overtly confrontational when things are more personal (spacewise, I mean), and are probably more willing to try to negotiate.

Cheers,
-Sazerac