I’ve been playing around with the idea of implementing a theme for this year’s Speak Out after reading another round of: “Hey, why can’t you just be happy for people with good news?” Negative and bullish comments simply because someone had a great day? What can anyone do except to tell that person to shut up. If you’re upset about someone being happy, then what does that say about your state of mind? On those rare occasions when I’m annoyed by someone’s overabundance of SQUEE, then I simply unplug for a little while.
OR…
I fight back not with fire, but with gratitude.
There’s a lot of power in the words “Thank You” and really, who can argue or be a troll about that? We may feel envious of other people’s successes, especially if you’re a creative like I am, but in the end there’s enough happiness to go around for everyone.
Imagine a week of thank you letters to the people who got us into our hobbies, who inspired our passions, who helped us grow into the people we are now?
Thoughts? What do you think about this theme?
Originally Published on SpeakOutWithYourGeekOut.com
Raymond Frazee April 2, 2012
I believe that’s a great idea, and one we should explore.
Eddy Webb April 2, 2012
I do this a lot. Either “Thank you for your feedback!” or “Wow, that’s a hilarious impression of a troll! Thank you for the laugh!”
So far, that’s always ended things.
Monica Valentinelli April 2, 2012
Wow, that’s a great way to handle that. I may have to borrow the “troll impression” bit.
A.J. April 2, 2012
Ooh, themes! I love themes. And I really love this one you’ve suggested. Trolling on trolls, eh? 🙂
Tim Rodriguez April 2, 2012
I’m totally in. For additional reading, there’s a great anecdote floating around about how Benjamin Franklin turned one of his most vocal detractors to one of his most loyal friends with this way-of-being. It’s definitely worth digging up.
Zachary Ricks April 2, 2012
Totally goes along with something I heard this weekend about envy, and how some people seem to have to drink a quart of pickle juice any time they hear about someone else’s good fortune. Pickle juice for the trolls, and gratitude for all that thrills our geeky little hearts, says I!