We all have weaknesses; we all make mistakes. We misspeak and mis-think with regularity. Even while exercising self-restraint, our facial expressions and intonations may betray us. Sometimes we blurt out our words; sometimes our mouths work faster than our brains. And sometimes there are people lurking about, like scavengers after dead meat: “Aha! Now we know what you really think. Now we know what kind of low-life monster you really are!”
“Some people take no mental exercise apart from jumping to conclusions.” – Harold Acton
We all have bad ideas rattling around in our heads. We may be tempted by some of those bad ideas, even while firmly believing they don’t deserve to see the light of day. This processing in our minds is not the repression of our “true” selves; it is the appropriate sorting of ideas.
We all need grace. Those who understand this best are those most likely to extend it to others. Unwillingness to extend grace is arrogance. It is the arrogant who take perverse, sadistic delight in stepping on the fallen.
When we speak, especially when we speak (or write) publicly, we need to calm down, slow down, and consider the impact of our words. When we write we should let the words sit for 24 hours, then edit again. Sometimes thoughts that come out of our heads need to be put right back, and filed under “L” for lame, or “M” for mean. Some thoughts need to remain private.
Privacy is also needed for the sake of safety. It’s not true that the world is out to get you. What is true is that the world doesn’t give a damn about you. That doesn’t mean that no one cares about you, nor does it mean that there are no strangers who would act fairly on your behalf. What it means is that most people are inclined to exploitation, especially when they can remain anonymous. There are many who are comfortable with taking your private information and using it for their own enrichment, without concern that their theft may harm you, or even be devastating to you. In a Darwinian society, it’s easy to steal from the feeble, the feeble-minded, and the unsuspecting.
Privacy also matters because there are some details about you that are valued by specific individuals in your life, but are spoiled in the hearing of a careless public.
Don’t toss your pearls to the swine.
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