…ends where your nose begins.
This pithy little saying was something I came up with in college to try and describe where I stood on the question of personal freedoms. For many, college is a time to challenge assumptions and to entertain new ways of looking at the world. For me, this led to an interesting debate about what people should and should not be able to say & do… and which I think is even more relevant today in our hyper-connected world.
Back in college, I remember there being a fire-and-brimstone preacher who would regularly stand on the central quad and berate students for being immoral. You can imagine how well that was received but it was one of several experiences that got me thinking about the people around me and where the line could be drawn to ensure everyone’s ability to do as they saw fit while doing no harm to others. In my mind’s eye, I got the image of me swinging my arms wildly in the open air doing whatever I wanted to do. Silly? Sure. Harming someone else? Well, not until I got near them.
Taking that imagery a bit further, if I was doing my arm swinging in a remote corner of Montana, no one would probably see nor care what I was doing. If, however, I chose to start swinging my arms in the middle of the office, I’d garner a lot of attention and stand a pretty good chance of hitting someone. So place, context and the impact on others all become factors to consider as we express ourselves.
Decades ago, a group of people might meet for a dinner party or get together to play cards and opinions would fly back-and-forth just as they would today. But the immediate reach of those comments, and their dissemination to a wider audience, were much more limited. Today, however, social media platforms let anyone put forward an opinion and there’s the potential for those words to reach millions of people. Because of that, this is why I feel we have a greater sense of responsibility towards being thoughtful and careful about what we post.
Understand, I’m not suggesting that we stop engaging in discussion and debate, only that we try and consider how we are saying something and how it may be heard.
Technology now permits us to potentially impact our world in such profound ways. I would therefore propose that this increased thoughtfulness is the price we must pay to make sure that our contribution to the broader discussion is constructive and not destructive, thoughtful and not rash, and ultimately intended to to engage and not enrage.
So be careful where you swing those verbal fists because we all suddenly find ourselves in a much more crowded online space.
Know that I’m pulling for you.
What If... 
Working in downtown Cincinnati I see people speaking their mind on the corner or holding up a sign on Fountain Square. I feel like they need to mind their own business, although maybe I should completely ignore them and respect their right to do that. It gets a little tricky though when they say things I don’t agree with. Slippery slope. I enjoyed reading your thoughts Chris thanks for sharing!
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You bring up a very real challenge Mark that we all face and, arguably, I might suggest that these street corner speakers might need consider how they’re delivering their message. After all, they’re swinging their (verbal) fists and impacting you and those around you.
For me, the ultimate question is what you are trying to achieve. If it’s just attention, then these folks are being successful. If, however, they are trying to change your mind about some topic, I find this aggressive, “in your face” method pretty ineffective. They might sway a few people who are easily intimidated or who have deep-seated feelings of guilt about whatever topic it is, but I doubt many of those conversions will truly last. Without knowing exactly what they’re saying, my guess is that they’re not very successful at what they’re trying to accomplish.
Finally, I hope you don’t take my post as saying that you shouldn’t be bothered by what others say or to keep silent if you are. Rather, I’m simply challenging us to engage in conversations at a deeper and more respectful level. Oftentimes, that means taking the high road when others don’t and that can be frustrating but I’d rather try to elevate others up rather than stoop to their level.
That all said, I truly appreciate the kind words and your sharing your experiences!
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