Welcome to the 15th installment of "The Unrav'ling Thread" where we explore the strange and wonderful things that happen when a diary is published and "open for business".
Having shared all my wisdom (such as it is) on the subject of commenting, I've asked a distinguished panel of Famous Dead People to share their insights. Untainted by exposure to the blogosphere, these folks who've never uttered an "LOL" or "OMG" or a "WTF?!" have agreed - through the miracle of a dusty old Ouija board and a bottle of bourbon - to offer you their advice on the age-old problems that have plagued writers through the ages. So without further ado, let's begin.
On Ignorance and Stupidity
As you read through comments in your diary thread, do you find yourself saying things like: "Dude! Did you even read my diary? What's the matter with you? Are you really this clueless?" If so, take some comfort in these wise words.
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something from him."
--Galileo Galilei
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidty."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
--Albert Einstein
Sad to say, ignorance is pretty pervasive in the world at large, and even here in the intellectually rarified air of the Great Orange Debate Club, so if you encounter it in your comment thread, try to resist the temptation to descend into the abyss of stupidity in crafting a response. Some people really haven't read your diary, so great is their haste to respond to your title or opening sentence. Remember: you're under no obligation to recommend or reply to a comment. If it's something really stupid, you can just leave it there for others to stumble upon while you focus on the comments that truly add some value.
Follow along below the Ouija board aura for more...
On Opinions and Disagreement
It's a rare diary indeed that doesn't spark alternative opinions and disagreements. Indeed, some - even on the rec list - seem to be nothing but disagreement, expressed in the most venement of terms, resulting in little progress in advancing the issue, and even driving people away from future diaries (or in some cases, posting at all).
While there's much we can learn from those who disagree with us, it's helpful to keep our focus on "what" is wrong, rather than "who" is wrong. Here is some good advice from some people who've been around the block a time or two:
"Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress."
--Mahatma Gandhi
"How many a dispute could have been deflated into a single paragraph if the disputants had dared to define their terms."
--Aristotle
"The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments."
--Friedrich Nietzsche
On Courtesy and Kindness
Wondering how to reply to a comment? Try a little tenderness. In our rough-and-tumble world, it's important to remember that frayed nerves and thin skin are common to most of us, and words can sometimes be misconstrued without the benefit of face-to-face communications, where we could rely upon body language and facial expressions to distinguish between friendly humor and cutting wit. Who wouldn't welcome a kind word or two? It's a great way to cultivate repeat business from your commenters.
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
--Aesop
"I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers."
--Kahlil Gibran
On Humor and Wit
Few things delight us more than a witty comment, and given the intelligence, education, insight, and comic brilliance of many of our Kossacks, humor is a frequent visitor to our comment threads. It's a great way to make a point in a way that will be remembered (and possibly shared, Tweeted, and "liked"). If you don't already have enough reasons to recommend and reply to witty comments, here are a few more:
"Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place."
-- Mark Twain
Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinctions. No dignity, no learning, no force of character, can make any stand against good wit."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our correspondents had plenty more to say, but in the interests of brevity, let me just leave you with one final thought:
"The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of use to oneself."
--Oscar Wilde
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If you've missed previous installments of The Unrav'ling Thread, here are the links. If you have ideas for future topics, please let me know. As long as there's something to write, I'm happy to add more installments.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10
Part 11, Part 12, Part 13
Part 14