Turn, turn, turn

[Survival_Goddess]

Well friends,

Today I was reading my morning blog roll (I use Google Reader as an aggregator) and I came across a nice post from Seth Godin who writes about marketing, respect, and the ways ideas spread. I teach online and in my classes we create small online communities.

Not to beat a dead horse, but elsewhere someone asked me about the spitstorm that erupted on my Peach Tree thread. I have always tried to be positive here, and I try to use the bb to help sort out options for myself. I try to post at least a couple of times to others for each post I do for myself. "give one - get one"

Sometimes people need sympathy. Sometimes they are asking for advice. Sometimes they aren't asking for advice but they get it anyway!

That said, I think in an cyber-space like this it is hard to remember the human. . I am on several e-mail lists and there is usually a big flare up every couple of years or so. I try to stay out of it. I try not to get so emotionally involved in what other people say.

However, one day a few months ago someone said something on her thread that really got under my skin. And I wrote an indirect response to her on my own thread. I wasn't surprised at all when she picked up on what I wrote and responded. What DID surprise me was how off the wall the response seemed, and also the huge amount of back and forth was generated.

At the time, because the response was so unrelated to what I wrote, I took it to mean that it was "about them" and not "about me" and then forgot about it. I actually just chalked it up to stress.

Because in a way, everyone here is shell-shocked and stressed to a certain extent. We are survivors...but I know in some ways I am like a post-traumatic stress syndrome survivor.

The poster did apologize to me on my thread and wrote me privately and apologized again.

Oh, and what Seth Godin said today?

People online are real people.If you send a nasty email, there's a real human being on the other end who gets it.
If you flame in a forum, you're wasting real people's time.
If you spam someone, you're really only making yourself look bad.
If you write IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS it sounds like shouting.
If you want something to happen your way, try asking instead of demanding.
If you give, you'll probably wind up getting, too.
If you blog just to pick fights, don't be surprised when people don't trust you.
If you collaborate, say thanks.
If you're independent, say no thanks.
If you like someone, tell them.
If you don't, walk away from the computer.
If you're giving feedback, lead with just one good thing.
If you're getting feedback, realize that the person must care a lot to have sent it.
If you goof, apologize.
If you apologize, mean it.
If you smile, mean that too.
If you don't like something, don't do it.
If you do like something, spread it.

But far far more important:

Give people a break.
The break you probably deserve yourself.
People are out to do good, 99% of the time.
You probably are too.
Say thanks out loud and a lot.
Try making someone's day.
Chances are they'll make yours in return.



Thank you everyone for the humor, support, friendship, caring, advice and wisdom shared over the years.