Thoughts.com Blogs - The Truth Hurts--more than it should

[I am not sure where to begin with this one. So, consider it more of a speak out than a well written document.] They say when you are in danger on the street, you should shout "FIRE!" instead of "HELP!" to get more attention and/or actual help. People run from the latter and run to the former. Well, in the case of online communication, people run from the truth unless it's pouring out of their fingers under pressure or someone actually has some wisdom to bestow(and there are people willing to hear it).

I've said this before. If you don't have something nice to say, people seem to reject or freak out from it. It can be constructive criticism--input which the person had asked for--and they still will turn ugly and snap at you for your honesty. Honesty.

www.geocities.com/rainforest/vines/1153/honesty.mid

What brings this little burr in the side to the fray once more involves a recent "incident" with a participant of the site. I have seen this before where a person mentioned a trick to bumping up views of a post to put it easily on the top of the charts in the Popular pages. To tell the TRUTH, that person's infamous post has vanished from radar completely. Now, I find someone with a single post which happens to be a poem. I don't know how much time was spent on the poem. I don't know how many people actually work on or visit this site regularly, but in less than a week, I don't believe 4,000(roughly) people would zone in on this one poem. This participant is quite new to the site. Far newer than myself. And, even more recently, another rather average looking post jumps up to 9,000 views in less than a week. I don't know about most of you, but personally the title doesn't bite my interest unless I was looking to start such a job.

So, why does any of this bug me? What do I care? Well, I don't know why it should or does, but I spent considerable time and effort assembling a few of my posts recently. I looked up pictures and put together links and information. I submitted ideas, wisdom, input on artistic taste which I believe I have in abundance. I was surprised to see my post make on that popular views list. And, realizing my efforts were paying off, I was pleased minutely. I suppose I should feel like kentlass and just be happy working away at my work and let what comes be. [I won't go into what can all be read in the forums about the Vegas contest. Interpret things as you will investigate. But, she has done extensive posting on this site and humbly accepts the passerby comments and listing in the popular blog list.] But, I am not. I could go somewhere else and just repeat the same sort of ill content.

I'm sort of getting off target. But, I felt a bit irked that every time my post went up in views, this other post would take the lead over mine every time. It slowly became clear to me that what was happenning was motivated, not coincidence(at least that is what I believe). [Again, why do I fuss? I just feel I must.] So, I finally found the nerve to say something to said individual. I thought it would stay discreet...maybe a lil email tussle to get things out in the open. Find my answer. Instead, it seems to be affecting every side of my existence here. First, my biggest hit post suddenly gets a 1 star rating--as if it was at all so terrible. Pardon, me for saying my feelings, sir stranger. I won't do it again--if only I knew the truth before I jumped. [Then again, who's to say I wouldn't be lied to and the plot would continue? Only to be played again only worse because now he had a scab to pick...just for fun.] Then, I find my general standing rating going down. I once had 5 stars. I didn't even know who was rating me. I don't bother with those things--thinking they are just frivolous gold stars...more butter for the ego I could care less about. Well, now I have 3 stars. I don't blame the site directly. They provided this service. No, something smells of war here. And, I don't want to see anymore "bloodshed".

We all get sad, happy and even mad sometimes. We can all get a lil crazy. Just... I don't know. What is the right action to take? And, will justice always be served if we all just let things be? And, who is to decide what is right or wrong? If I said nothing, would I be happy always letting others walk over me or cheat to get the golden ring I worked for? Shit happens. I'd just like to see it happen alot less if I can help it. With a little honest expression. NOT meditative retaliation. Is it a crime to express opinion? Does opinion rationalize retaliation? I don't lash out for something I hear that I don't like. I will express my feelings whether under pressure or not. But, retaliation is a last resort(then again, we are all human). I won't cut off someone's fingers just because they said something I didn't like. Nor will I poison their food or even make prank calls to their house just to get under their skin for a laugh. I lash out when I've been crossed or beaten down so far that I feel I have a humble right to say/do something. I get letters with questionable sexual topics I would rather not even touch with a ten foot pole. I have faced hostile comments from misunderstandings all my life. I have seen people freak out and freaked out myself far less. I hope--if he DOES enjoy starting something--that he won't mind if the whole site got involved and ejected us both when it all blew over. Then we would just chalk it up to a lesson learned. But, I would lose a far greater body of work. 30-some meaty posts compared to 1(or is it two now?). Bummer; ay? Or who gives a crap?

Pardon me for my honest opinion. It was just a thought.