"One always looking for flaws leaves too little time for construction."
Try as I might, sometimes it is pretty hard not to take other people's negativity personally. Why is that you might ask? Well, its simply because it pisses me off that after taking the time and effort (by that I mean hours, weeks, months... even years) to develop an idea, create a concept, motivate and invest myself, and then finally put my ideas to paper (keyboard)...that there are always those people that will take the same time and energy to crap on a person's lively hood and take all the fun out of it. I'm not talking about the usual "Debbie Downer" or "Negative Neil" who might be defined in one of the following ways:
- Someone who throws in a negative comment, says something terribly depressing, typically only tangentially related to the present circumstance or topic of conversation.
- A person with an incessant need to bring down the collective mood of a group chill or forum.
- A busy-body pessimist, one who looks on the downside of things, criticizes relentlessly, sees the glass as half empty...you get the picture.
In keeping with today's technology, I'm leaning more towards the following definition:
- Someone that finds it necessary to use social media to post negative remarks and/or make comments to create unnecessary conflict/controversy to fulfill their own boredom; or to satisfy the personal belief that somewhere along the line, they have obtained a level of intelligence far more superior to that of the general public....and they feel the need to add their two-cents in on any, and every thing, from breast feeding to the molecular structure of gasoline.
It is the latter nuisance that tends to ruffle my feathers. Toxic people that can't help but attach their unprovoked commentary onto your posts and photos, hoping to egg a response out of another fan/follower...or you. Up to now (hence this blog post), I've attempted to grin and bear it. Ya know, be professional. Then I thought, wait a second! Let's define "professional".
A professional is a person who is engaged in a certain activity,
or occupation, for gain or compensation as means of livelihood; such as a
permanent career, not as an amateur or pastime.
So, let's break this down. (a) I'm not getting paid to endure anyone's wrath. My time and efforts are strictly on a volunteer basis. It has actually cost me to pursue this endeavor. (b) My education/career is not web design, photography, writing, survival tactics or publishing. (c) I'm no expert at anything. (Maybe complaining, but only because I've been told that... I don't see it. Really.) (d) Although most of the time, I find myself engaging in creative and intellectually challenging "work" with Bound4Burlingame.com, B4B Facebook Page, Camping Concepts 101, B4B You Tube Channel, Twitter, or our Blah...Blah...Blog, NOWHERE do I imply the quality of my workmanship is impeccable, or professional grade... or even of decent quality.
Many people hold a "pro" to a higher standard, thus finding it a necessity to place a great deal of trust in them. Honestly, I am an admitted amateur web designer and hobbyist camper, so due to my voluntary lack of professionalism...I suggest
....no, implore you, to NOT hold me to any strict code of conduct enshrining rigorous ethical and/or moral obligations. I plant myself beside you, not above you. We are equal. I know only what myself, family, friends, and acquaintances have experienced and willingly shared. I've always felt that any one person knows no more, or no less, then another. They only possess different knowledge.
When you do visit my site, or social pages, I ask you to have an open mind. Everyone has the ability to listen, absorb, learn, familiarize, observe, recognize, accomplish, enlighten, and educate others. Don't be jealous, or vindictive, when you come across someone making an attempt to share their passions with fellow enthusiasts. Embrace it, be part of it. Bestow your knowledge. Participate on a fun, yet respectable level. Share in the adventure, by sharing your adventures.
If your goal when you frequent my social network pages is to criticize, reprimand, chastise, judge, nit-pick, bash, or give bad press to my ideas/performance/aspirations/attempts at humor ... PLEASE...do a friggin reverse, and try focusing on yourself. How about if you go to YOUR own wall, or blog, or Twitter account etc., and post a stupid, smart ass, sad, holier-than-thou, woeful, or depressing status/photo/comment which conveys your spitefulness regarding life in general. Then sit back and watch the morale of all that see it, plummet to the ground. Get the hint? Good.
Pass this on...or share these thoughts with a Debbie Downer you know ;-) Maybe they'll get the hint too.
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