I can be as stupid as anyone

Posted on April 21, 2009 by Bill Wren

I’m annoyed with myself for allowing a kneejerk response to escape. There was a story about Fredericton (where I live): Habitat for Humanity’s request for free land denied. I disagree with the decision and was angered when I read the article. So, of course, I had to post a comment. It was this:

This is the mentality of a backwater. A “No” to 21st century solutions. We are a retirement village whining about needing young people, more “stuff” the rest of the country has and with no interest or will to do anything except keep our little lawn bowling capital the way it has always been – dull, tedious and self-centred.

Question: do you think anyone is going to pause, thoughtfully consider my opinion, and consider changing their mind? Do you think calling someone you disagree with an idiot is the best way to get them to change their position?

No. You’ll be ignored, as you should.

That’s why I’m angry with myself. The Internet offers many things. Unfortunately, one of the things it offers is immediacy and the opportunity of opening your mouth before you think.

About Bill Wren

Writer, editor, social media practitioner and observer of how and where people connect and engage online.
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  • mikel

    It’s not that bad, you even got somebody agreeing with your right after, which is worth more than a bunch of ‘thumbs ups’ (which also suffer from that same immediacy). The real problem I see is that you are equating the CITIZENS of the city with the government. Woodside is essentially an elected dictator. Although the Gleaner points out that so long as you are a developer with eight units you get a discount, that doesn’t figure into the ‘level playing field’ for some reason. So you essentially called everybody in the city ‘dull, tedious and self centred’. But there is nothing wrong with the intention of showing disapproval for a public decision-that’s the only way politicians ever know when they are unpopular.

  • mikel

    It’s not that bad, you even got somebody agreeing with your right after, which is worth more than a bunch of ‘thumbs ups’ (which also suffer from that same immediacy). The real problem I see is that you are equating the CITIZENS of the city with the government. Woodside is essentially an elected dictator. Although the Gleaner points out that so long as you are a developer with eight units you get a discount, that doesn’t figure into the ‘level playing field’ for some reason. So you essentially called everybody in the city ‘dull, tedious and self centred’. But there is nothing wrong with the intention of showing disapproval for a public decision-that’s the only way politicians ever know when they are unpopular.

  • http://writelife.net/ Bill

    Yes, if I’d taken a moment and been more thoughtful, I wouldn’t have written something that lumped everyone (politicians/citizens/business) together, because I don’t actually see it that way. But that’s he problem with a knee jerk response.

  • http://writelife.net Bill

    Yes, if I’d taken a moment and been more thoughtful, I wouldn’t have written something that lumped everyone (politicians/citizens/business) together, because I don’t actually see it that way. But that’s he problem with a knee jerk response.