2013 New Years Resolutions...or, wishful thinking

Okay, so I joined this crafting group yesterday to (hopefully) sell some of the baby quilts I've made.  I put up four pictures.  Two of my handmade quilts and two machine sewn.  I posted that the two handmade quilts had been sold and or gifted. I wanted to show what I can do. Interesting that the very first comment on my post was..."What a load of shit."

I had such high hopes for this group.  There are so many beautiful things made by Montanans available there.  I am so terribly disappointed by the comment. Don't get me wrong.  This isn't about the quilts I posted pics of.  It is about the comment and the lack of reason for it.

I guess, (foolish me) I expected too much. You know?  I expected stupid things, like courtesy, respect, perhaps even a big hearty "welcome to our group!"  Didn't happen from the person leaving the comment.  Too bad really.  I was looking forward to seeing what other crafty Montanans are up to.

To the credit of the Admins, they blocked this person for trying to scam people and for spamming...Interesting to be told how she was "recent" addition to the group, she turned out to be a sneaky little spammer.  Didn't really ring true to me, so I went and looked.  She had been a member of the group for some time.

The moral of the story?  

Sorry folks, there isn't one.  Morals. Ethics. Kindness. Courtesy. Respect. Along with all the other common little niceties, no longer exist.  Not in person,on Facebook or the groups on the site.  And certainly not anywhere else on the web, where anonymity allows us to treat each other so badly.  Without consequence.  

These little things, these little courtesies, the little acts of kindness don't seem to exist these days.  Or, if they do, these little acts of politeness and gentleness toward others, is extraordinarily rare.  And as such, those moments are beyond precious. 

I am not going to try to tell anyone how "perfect and kind" I am.  I'm not. I am just as guilty as the next person of forgetting to be nice when it counts. But, I  try very hard not to hurt people on purpose.  Especially when it comes to subjects I am passionate about.  That doesn't mean I don't recognize my own shortcomings and lack of courtesy at times.

I admit it.  I am not the kindest person on the earth.  But, I am exceedingly tired of being "attacked" for the things I believe passionately.  I wish we would try to be kinder to each other.  We will always disagree about things. That doesn't mean we should rip each other to pieces because of those points of contention. What ever happened to polite discourse?

That old adage of, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," is dead and gone. Most particularly when it pertains to the Internet and social networking sites.  We have lost out ability to communicate in a meaningful, face to face manner, with kindness and courtesy. 

Maybe we should all make kindness, courtesy and all the other common niceties our personal resolutions for 2013.  I, for one, believe we should try to bring them back...