collective conscious
September 6, 2013 § 6 Comments
In the cramped corner of my social media news feed one person’s comment created a consciousness that informed a genuine moment of consideration for casual unkindness. An unflattering image immortalized on film, a flippant comment dressed in humor but cloaked in judgement; sticks and stones tossed harmfully into the company of strangers and friends.
It began with a photograph posted in jest. I had witnessed the image and allowed myself to find humor in the company of collective amusement. I shared the image with my husband, distractedly wondering at the appropriateness of its placement. There was an uncomfortable echo that seemed to amplify the silent laughter into something garish and shameful.
Having eavesdropped on a thread of thought among old friends and strangers, I dismissed myself of accountability and walked away from the questions and discomfort of the moment. A nagging uncertainty followed me.
In much the same way I stumbled across the unflattering image, I soon came across a comment I wished I had been brave enough to compose. A stranger identified the unkindness, making each silent witness look publicly at our collective response.
Today I am acknowledging my laughter and silence with a greater consciousness of passive unkindness, wishing I had spoken for the stranger as if they were a friend.
scribblechic 
Good words for your young ones to read too.
There’s something to be said for sharing our mistakes with honesty and humility. Thanks!
We all had moments when for some reason or another we did not act. It sets us up for round 2…. which is … will we be able and willing. Sadly it does not happen until round 3 or later. I like to consider myself a finisher, some moments just seem to catch me off guard.
There is certainly much to learn from witnessing an exchange, conscious of our emotions and questions. In this example, I was reminded of the passivity of unkindness in social media where words and silence communicate a casual message of disrespect among a broader community.
This happens so often in our lives, I think we generally overlook the unkind ongoings. Stepping back from it all, I can easily count situations where a word about the unkindness would have changed the entire play-out. Very interesting to think about.
Thank you. I think this is the precise reason I needed to share this – capturing a moment’s awareness least I dismiss myself of responsibility for little, overlooked unkindnesses.