“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me,” is a familiar childhood refrain.
With the development of Facebook and Twitter, name-calling and denigrating people, organizations and businesses have a wider platform for something that has been going on for hundreds of years.
While there are new ways to put people, organizations and businesses down, personal interactions remain as a well-used method.
People who choose social media platforms or use personal comments to spread negative comments need to realize that putting another person, organization or business down does not elevate them in the eyes of people hearing what they have to say. The opposite is true, it makes them appear smaller and more insecure than those they are attacking.
It is important to remember when you point your finger at others, three others are pointing back to you.
It is better to expend energy to become a better person yourself, a better organization or more professional business than to spend energy in an effort to lower impressions of others.
Snarky comments and name-calling say more about the perpetrator than they do about the recipient. It takes no time at all for the person, organization or business being talked about negatively to hear about the comments. With social media, it’s there for everyone to read, and personal comments made behind the back promote distaste in both those hearing it and those about whom the comments are being made.
Unfortunately, the current president of the United States has become the world’s biggest name-caller of people in his own country and around the world. He is a shameless example of how not to behave and it is disturbing that his behaviour is emboldening others to follow his path.
Being the newest member of Rotary International, we at the Peak are impressed with The Four-Way Test and believe our community, our country and the world would be a better place if humanity lived by it.
One: Is it the truth?
Two: Is it fair to all concerned?
Three: Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Four: Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
We, your community newspaper, would like to see this test applied to many levels where we live. Our employees, including a large carrier force, work every day to contribute positively to the fabric of qathet Regional District.
We ask that you join us in living up to The Four-Way Test.
