Think Before Commenting

 

I've been sitting with the computer in my lap for a few hours.

Words haven't come to me.

I mean, that's a continuation from yesterday but the point remains.

I guess, if anything, I find myself wondering why we just can't shut up sometimes.

For instance, I'm active in two worlds in social media: sports and roads. I also read daily sports news on The Athletic.

In each case, it's the comments that are the cause for breaking out the popcorn.

There an obsession in both groups is to be a know-it-all. It's something that I guess I don't understand.

I know some stuff and, yes, I see a ridiculous amount of mistakes on a daily basis, but I just don't feel the need to be that person.

Why is it such a thing to correct each other? Then, normally, there's an attitude in the response and suddenly it's time to play the feud!

It becomes like something you just can't look away from as the comments get snarkier.

I mean, I get it. I believe in accuracy and that's sort of the gig in broadcasting, especially thanks to irresponsible reporters who just seem to make stuff up.

And yes, I also call nonsense out, so guilty as charged.

But I read so much every day there's just always someone looking to outdo the other.

Yet in broadcasting -- when we're on the air -- I preach correcting each other on the air the right way. In fact, I decided years ago that when I heard an error of some kind I would repeat the fact with the proper information. I don't believe in embarrassing each other on the air.

But online, that's why I tend to be a reader -- a lurker, I suppose -- as opposed to a poster.

A comment posted on something I wrote yesterday made me do something I rarely do: delete it.

I contacted a friend that I trusted to see if they thought I was overreacting and I was told that they were actually going to say something to me about it.

So, boom. Gone.

Understand that I don't like deleting comments. I have a contact online who will delete comments that just don't fit his (usually political) agenda. It makes me nuts.

To that end, there's a small collection of people who hit the rarified air of not seeing things I post because they just always seemed to have something to say that was both not funny and useless.

For my own sanity, I had to do it.

I realize this post is a reach but I think these are the kinds of things that help me survive.

That, and humor, of course.

Why can't we just talk? Why can't conversations be civil? Without living in the past, I can't help but wonder where we went off the rails.

And now someone will say "Trump" or some other political insight.

I'd suggest not saying that.

I'm sure the bigger answer is that we get to hide behind keyboards or even microphones. 

I'm content to debate and discuss and even yell but a good battle like that ends with laughs and a drink.

That's why Chris Erway and I work. That's why Chris Kaelin and I are still close. Because we get it.

But it's just too difficult for our era of know-it-all narcissists.