The Kinder Way to Solve Problems

 

I had a conversation recently that rattled me. It has haunted me ever since and refuses to leave my mind because of how deeply it affected me. Maybe even more because I feel so helpless to do anything about it. 

I'm going to be annoyingly vague because I don't think I'm in the right place to share the details. 

Simply put, every person I've ever met has made mistakes. Every person I've ever met has hurt someone, sometimes badly. I admit that I tend to look for the good in people and assume that most genuinely have the best of intentions. But recently, I've witnessed a situation involving a group of people who seem intent on hurting and destroying certain individuals. 

I don't know the whole story, and I don't feel it's my right or place to know every detail. I'll even concede that the people being targeted may have made mistakes or hurt others themselves. What I do know is that nobody deserves to be publicly humiliated, shamed, attacked, or have their livelihood threatened. Nobody deserves to lose something they are passionate about because their reputation has been destroyed by rumors, misinformation, or allegations that spread far beyond the facts. 

One of the most poisonous aspects of social media is the lack of accountability and how quickly unverified claims can spread. The damage can be enormous, even when the truth is far more complicated. If the goal is to improve situations, encourage growth, or create positive change, then devoting a social media platform to tear down a company and individuals feels terribly misguided. 

Conversations and dialogue can be difficult. Confronting someone can be uncomfortable. Sometimes it can even trigger a meltdown or illness, depending on your wiring. But if we want people to learn and grow, we need to reach out to them. We have to give people the opportunity to explain their side, take responsibility where appropriate, and give them the chance to grow and improve. 

I wish I could do more than write a post. What I can do is try my hardest to live a life rooted in compassion, kindness, and empathy. I can try to model those values for my children and hope they grow up believing that understanding people is more important than tearing them down.

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