Social Frustrations

Posted by Vulnadia on Dec 08, 2008 at 01:11 PM I don't know exactly how to write this or how to say what it is that is bothering me so, but I have to give it a shot and try and make a difference. Ladies, please be mindful of your actions and your words, ESPECIALLY when there is an unknown element! It has come to light both recently, and in the past, that I have observed people while out and about, who seem oblvious to the damage their actions and words have on others. I'm not talking about a case of road rage, or shopping frustrations, either. I'm talking about socially, I suppose. There are those among us, who, through whatever reasons, good or bad, have become media darlings with their stories plastered all over the newspapers, television and yes, even spread through gossip. What do we really know of these people, I ask you? Most of us only know what we read in the newspapers, magazines, etc. and what we hear on the news and on telelvision or online. The saddest, most tragic part of all, is that we as a society are want to pass judgement on these people based on only what we hear/read have heard and not on fact or truth in such matters. We tend to forget that the front-page cover-person is really a person with a life and a family just like everyone else and somehow find a way to push that person into a realm all their own where they aren't really real to us anymore, making it easier to talk about them, snub them and socially ostracize them, in spite of how we would have treated them had they not been made into media darlings instead of being allowed to live the life of the average joe you meet on the street. What is it about society today that finds it socially acceptable to treat these people like dogs when they see them out and about? Society tends to treat them as if they can't hear what is being said about them, and even will go so far as to say and do things out loud and in front of these folks as if they weren't even there, or worse, drawing attention to them in situations where it isn't warranted. Shouldn't these people have the same rights as everyone else? Shouldn't they be allowed to go grocery shopping in peace without the stares, comments and extra attention afforded them by the judgemental public? What about their families and friends who are out with them? How should they be expected to react when people say and do things like this? Are they due the same treatment? Is anybody? Who gives us the right to assume that what we have read in the media is truth and status quo? Why do we let this influence the way we view someone as a person? If you were out and about, and in an accident and someone helped you, would you be so quick to hurt the very hand that reached out to help you if it were one of these media darlings that you've seen and read about in the paper or on television? It burns me up to see inherently good people having their lives torn apart by society because someone decided to believe what was written/said in the media without even trying to learn what the truth may be. I suppose the bigger question is, is the truth really any of our business? Who is giving us the right to pass judgement and why oh why are we doing so based upon something written to attract a certain demographic or sell higher volumes to make a buck? People make mistakes. In fact, none of us are perfect. Some make bigger mistakes than others, but that doesn't mean that a person shouldn't be allowed to go on with their lives. So, the next time you are out and about, whether it be at the grocery store, or at a football game or even in the carpool line at school, please think twice about what you say and do! Your words and your actions can have a profound effect on the lives of people in ways you least expect.