h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Okay.. days later. 'Signing up' processes. Almost forgot what I wanted to say. I've read the rules. I won't spit. Hmm.. I'd have to clean off the screen if I did that.

I have made it a practice in real life never to stop for even a moment when I am passing by an accident. You know the drill. People driving or walking slow down to take a look at some poor soul in accident mode. Man, how would YOU like it if you were at your most vulnerable and someone came up alongside you and rolled down their window to gawk?

No, I don't mean that almost instinctively I don't reach out to help someone when I can see a problem coming. It makes my stomach do flip-flops sometimes when I am too close at a family eruption of some kind. I've even been stupid enough to stand and watch a bunch of drunks at three in the morning who seem to be showing signs of harrassing someone. Stupidity personified. I'd probably get my ass kicked. But I'm stupid that way when it comes to watching out for my fellow man.

But add to anyone's discomfort? No, not if I can help it. That's why, unless I can see my presence is required, I move quickly past an accident scene. I would hope you all would do the same in a similar circumstances. Ever sprained an ankle in public? Know how embarrassed you feel? So if help is at hand you don't need other people gawking. That's why the policeman's "let's move along, nothing to see here," is a rather apt phrase.

I feel a similar tug in chain letters and email hoaxes.

If it's someone I know, I'm there in a second. Perhaps TOO quickly perhaps. I gotta work on that a bit. Smile.

But when someone sends me chain mail of a pleading variety, I delete it immediately. For one, as Zach said, if someone really wanted to help, they should have gone to the source IMMEDIATELY. And two, this form of emotional blackmail -- that's what it is, in a way -- desensitizes. It desensitizes in the worst way. You are in a dark room, you haven't the time, enough information or a clue to what may really be happening. But these little explosions in your mailbox take on the form of a personal affront.

Think about it. There you are, looking through the usual odds and sods of mail and out pops one of these little gems. You have to scan it, taking in the truth of it as we all tend to do when we read words. We've been somewhat conditioned to believe what we read.

And little potshots like these... once finally analyzed, digested and tossed back... change our landscape.

Oh.. it's inperceptible. Like the first time you saw "Carrie." In some ways it's best to BE a little desensitized to some elements of unwellness in life. We'd all be hissy-backed cats if we didn't.

But in its appropriate time, place, of of OUR choosing.

I don't call email sacred. I except the fact that crap will pass those email doors into my inner sanctum.

But not things like email hoaxes which simply confirm the effect of mob rule and tear ever so tiny holes in the fabric we call our humanity.

So send me a bleeding heart message. But make DAMN sure you ain't playing games with my heart.

Dig?

Nuf said. Thanks for the corner.

Well spoken. I wholeheartedly agree with your words 100%. And to be quite honest your succinctness and intelligent use of the written word was quite impressive.

You wouldn't happen to be available, would you? *smirk*