New version
Have you ever thought you knew it all, only to realize you didn’t? Most of us can relate to that. I recently had two experiences on Twitter that reminded me of how much we still have to learn. While these incidents made me aware of others’ ignorance, they also taught me valuable lessons.
After a period of inactivity, I decided to become active on Twitter again. The reason behind this decision was witnessing the way trolls attacked others in 2015. Unfortunately, some people still believe their opinions are superior to others’. However, I have reached a point where I no longer let it bother me. Two particular events stuck with me and exposed the ignorance of those involved.
The first event involved a difference of opinion regarding my positive outlook on my Autism. Some argued that I shouldn’t be positive because “autism” can be a painful and lonely existence for some individuals, leading to self-injurious behavior and communication difficulties. While I acknowledge the challenges faced by many people with Autism, including myself, I firmly believe that maintaining a positive attitude is possible. One of the reasons for my positivity stems from the understanding that things could be worse.
What many people don’t know about me is that I come from a large family. To say it’s massive would be an understatement. My biological father had relationships with multiple women, resulting in numerous siblings for me. One of my half-sisters lives in Greece, specifically Argos. She has multiple conditions, both physical and mental, which significantly limit her life. Being blind and having muscle problems that require a wheelchair, her challenges are undeniable. However, when I talk to her regularly, I am amazed by her happiness and constant smile. She serves as a source of inspiration, reminding me to focus on the positives in life. Comparing her multitude of problems, including blindness and mobility issues, with the concept of loneliness, I find it difficult to accept it as a valid reason to lack positivity. Some might argue that her situation is different from mine or others’, and indeed it is, but that’s beside the point. We are not alone in this world, and that alone should alleviate feelings of loneliness.
The second event I encountered was rather peculiar. An American individual stated that I should have died in Donetsk after a troll made derogatory remarks about Europe’s understanding of freedom compared to the United States. Personally, I find such statements difficult to take seriously. Even if I had died in Donetsk, it would have had no impact on Russia, Ukraine, or the USA, except for the people who knew me. Making these kinds of remarks not only perpetuates discrimination but also contradicts the USA’s stance on Ukraine and Russia. The person who made these comments supported a particular American presidential candidate known for controversial actions, further damaging their image. It seemed this person failed to consider the subject I actively engaged with on Twitter: politics. Or perhaps they overlooked the fact that I still strongly support Ukraine, despite living in Germany and having Russian family and friends.
It’s evident that people often act without considering the full context or examining all the relevant facts. They only rely on the “facts” they perceive, which may not be as factual as they assume upon closer inspection. None of us are perfect; it takes a moment of reflection to realize the potential consequences of our actions. What may seem like a destructive act against someone else, driven by a desire to harm them, can easily backfire and destroy us instead. Being on the defensive is often a wiser choice than being the aggressor. Attackers are invariably in the wrong, while those defending themselves have a higher likelihood of being in the right.
This brings me to the relevance of the second event: separatism. It should be a last resort, not a knee-jerk reaction based on the assumption that it will lead to a better outcome. History has shown that defenders usually prevail, and the attackers and their allies are left to deal with the aftermath and its associated problems. So, if you don’t possess all the knowledge, refrain from acting like you do. And if you’re unsure whether you know everything, have the courage to ask or remain silent. This approach not only demonstrates respect for others but also safeguards you from the potential consequences of your actions. Engaging in a debate without all the facts is akin to entering a gunfight without a weapon—you’re destined to lose.
In conclusion, the incidents I experienced on Twitter reminded me of the power of understanding and humility. No one knows everything, and it is essential to recognize our limitations. By embracing a willingness to learn, to ask questions, and to avoid making assumptions, we can cultivate empathy and avoid unnecessary conflicts. Let us strive to be seekers of knowledge rather than asserters of ignorance.
Old version
Ever knew what you did by just thinking that you know?
Probably your answer will be a “No”.
And indeed, most do not know everything they should know.
Like at 2 events that happened this past week to me at Twitter.
I just recently have become active again at Twitter, having been mostly inactive during 2015, and only very few Tweets during the start of 2016.
The thing that changed, was that I felt like being active again at Twitter after having seen how trolls attack others in 2015.
And of course, people find it necessary to yet again take their opinion as most important.
The thing is, I couldn’t care much about it anymore.
As the 2 events that sticked with me, only made me see the ignorance of the other persons.
The first of the 2 events was an difference of opinions regarding my positive look at my Autism.
I shouldn’t be positive regarding it, as “for some people “autism” is a very painful & lonely existence. Pain from SIB. Lonely not being able to communic”(-icate, phrase wasn’t written fully).
Obviously I wouldn’t deny there are people with Autism that has problems, in fact most do, including me, yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t be positive at all.
One of the reasons I am so positive, is the fact I know it can be worse.
Something many don’t know or realize is the fact I come from a massive family, and massive would probably even be too little said.
My biological father slept with many women and they gave birth to many children, all of them ending to be family/blood ties due to my biological father.
One of my (half-)siblings is a sister at Greece.(To be precise Argos)
She has multiple conditions, and not some difficult condition that is a combination of different conditions, but actual multiple conditions, both mentally as physical.
Her life will never be full, no one can say otherwise, as her 2 most notable physical problems cause enough troubles, as they are being blind and having muscle problems which make her unable to stand and walk on her own, therefore she is using a wheelchair.
Yet, when I talk to her(telephone or webchat), and that is almost every day, she is almost always happy and smiling, only a very few times this different.
She is a bundle of joy, inspiring me to try to see the positives of everything.
When I compare all her problems combined, or even those 2 alone, and the fact she is still happy and smiling, I just don’t see “being lonely” as a valid reason to not be positive.
The reply I would probably however get is that “she is not me/you”, and indeed, she ain’t, and that is not important at all, as we are not alone at this world, hence also no need to be lonely…
The thing is, my attitude may be different, and I may have reasons to see things differently then others, however, that doesn’t make them less effective, true or important.
The second event I would call a bit strange.
It was an American stating I should have died at Donetsk, after me having a troll making statements saying Europe(Yes, not EU/European Union) didn’t know what Freedom was, unlike him, as (also) he lived at the USA.
I just can’t take those kind of statements serious, the thing is, if I would have died at Donetsk, that would have made no difference to Russia or Ukraine, let alone the USA, yet it might have done for them.
It is very stupid to do these kind of remarks, as while they are discrimination without a doubt, it also stands against the USA’s own stance regarding Ukraine and Russia, and as it was an account supportive to a certain American presidential candidate who already has made not the best name for himself, not the best image was set for them.
The thing that was done was not showing anything Pro-American, instead it could have been counted as Anti-American, not really a patriotic act.
That person didn’t think about the actual subject the person himself was active at on the Twitter social media platform, politics…
Or he missed the fact I am still very supportive to Ukraine, even though I live at Germany now and have Russian family and friends.
People seem to often act without any regard to true facts, only the “facts” they see, which sometimes are not as much facts as they supposed when they would actually look at the other facts.
Nobody is perfect, not you, not me, it takes sometimes a minute to think about your acts, as while you might think they are destructive to the other, and apparently you would like to destroy the other. They might just as well backfire and hit you yourself, destroying you instead of your target…
Eventually, it is better to be the one on the defensive then the one attacking, as the attackers are always wrong, the defensive side only can become wrong, yet have a far bigger chance, to never be wrong at all.
And to make it related to the second event, this is why Separatism should be a lost resort, not something you just do as you think you will come out of it better, as the defender will most probably eventually win, and the attacker and all allies will be the ones ending up with the actual problems…
Please, if you don’t know everything, don’t act like you do, or if you don’t know if you know everything, dare to ask or be silent, not only in respect of the other, but also to protect yourself from the aftermath.
As going into a debate without all facts, is like going into a gunfight without a gun, you will never win…
