One of life’s lessons the earlier you learn the better is to expect neither respect nor desired reaction to your anger. This should come as no surprise. As Paul noted, “For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” If our Lord and Savior can’t get the time of day from us, what makes us think anyone is going to give a rip when we’re ripping?
That said, sometimes becoming angry and expressing it is the only viable option. Far better to get it out of your system than let it fester inside. After all, God gets angry. Granted, His fuse is far slower burning than all of ours put together and when He does get angry He always has unassailable cause. But He does get angry. There’s no shame in anger provided the cause is just.
Last night I blew a gasket online, tearing through Twitter while deleting everyone and everything that wasn’t following me including Michelle Malkin, Meghan McCain, Hugh Hewitt, Julie Banderas and others. Known, unknown, didn’t care. You don’t follow me, begone with you. You’re gone.
A couple of people commented, “You can’t realistically expect everyone you follow to follow you back.” Actually, yes I can and yes I do. I believe I have something to say to people known and unknown. In the eyes of God there are no unknown. All are equally His children, worthy of consideration. That includes me. And as I said, I believe I have something to say, and do so. Sometimes quite well. If I’m wrong I’m wrong. I don’t believe I am, and I’m not going to apologize for stating such.
“Ah, but you don’t follow everyone who follows you, do you?” Actually, yes I do. I give everyone a chance to see if they have something to add to the discourse. That doesn’t mean it stays that way. If you strike a pose as an Internet marketing genius guru life coach Twitter follower whoremonger with the secret of accumulating tens of thousands of followers and dollars, goodbye. If you have nothing to offer save twenty tweet long tirades against whoever or whatever, never once engaging in actual conversation with other people, goodbye. But I will give you a chance, and if you send me a direct communication I will read it and respond in some fashion.
I understand “I’m busy; I get a ton of e-mail; I can’t get back to everyone right away.” That’s okay. But that doesn’t excuse anyone from extending the common courtesy of a response. There is no excuse. Be it hours, days, weeks or months later, respond. Even if it’s nothing more than an acknowledgment. Write back. We’ve become too accustomed to the idea that if we don’t instantly react to instant communication it somehow expires. Wrong. E-mails don’t self-destruct. Write back. Yes, when you can. But write back.
I have run out of patience with those who never respond when I write them asking they please take a look at GAC and add it to their blogroll. Even if the response is peals of hysterical laughter as you struggle to wipe the tears from your eyes long enough to see your computer’s keyboard as you send me a note asking exactly which portion of reality has eluded my attention, at least be polite and get back to me, Andrew Breibart and Brent Bozell. Unless you’re waiting for pigs to fly or Ann Coulter to write a column stating President Obama is a swell guy, you and more than a few others have had more than enough time to respond.
Seriously. What’s the deal? Don’t like how I criticize policies and philosophies, not people? Freaked because I have My Left Wing on my blogroll? (For the record, it’s there because Maryscott O’Connor is good people.) Crabby because I believe the obligation to follow Christ not ending where your occupation or political affiliation begin applies to conservatives just as it does to moderates and liberals? Cranky because I preach if you’re going to claim you’re on God’s side of thing you should be paying Him more than occasional lip service? Yeah, ain’t life a bust.
Yes, I’m angry. No, I don’t expect anyone to care. But I’m going to be angry anyway, and I’m getting it out of my system. Perhaps if enough people get angry and start yelling at the snoots of the right wing they’ll get a clue and stop doing the thing, namely ignoring people, that makes them snoots.
Or wait until God calls them out on it.
Their choice.
It’s moments like these that caused the invention of punk.
I admire your spirit. I’ve been on Twitter two weeks and just figured out how to reply to someone!
1. Twitter isn’t just about mutuality, even though I think that’s important. Some people add value to your life even though you like them more than they like you.
2. Twitter is also not a conversation between two people. It’s a conversation between many and the streams often get lost or die out. That is, it doesn’t have the same social rules as IM or email. Respectfulness is always helpful, but response isn’t always required. Imposing rules like you’re sitting in someone’s living room (possibly with two thousand people) will be frustrating.