A Communication Conundrum 
I’m just wondering something.  Is what I say on the phone, or through text, blogs, social media, less worthwhile, or invalid simply because it is written and not spoken in person?

Do I need to interact in person in order to receive feedback? Real people do exist in the virtual world, do they not? I am real, so they must also be real too, right? Why is writing forbidden? What about people who can’t speak? Where they use a keyboard to communicate? Is what they say, less valid. Can they not be responded to by real people too? Can we not articulate what they are saying?
Was Stephen Hawking less valid as a scientist because he used an electronic device to speak?

Many people can only communicate with a keyboard. Should we ignore them too? 

People are still more than welcome to disagree with me. Respectful discourse is always welcome. It is not as if I am hiding from  being confronted with different viewpoints. I DO interact with people who have different viewpoints. I do Engage in online discourse about topics that are important to me. Do I have to have the person in front of me, speaking from our mouths for my words to have an impact? We are saying the same thing, right? 

And, for me, writing is easier than speaking. I don’t get all jumbled up. I can clearly articulate what I want to say. 

AAAAAAAAAND! I don’t have to talk to different people if I don’t want to. Why should I? I can choose who I wish to engage with. Whether that is online or in person. I don’t have to talk to the person if I don’t want to. 

And if the discussion turns nasty and I am being personally attacked, I have every right to exit that conversation. 

I don’t get this idea that engaging with people face to face, makes what I’m saying real, making me also real. 

Maybe people are just too goddam exhausting for me. In the online world, it is very simple. If I’m being treated badly, I can very easily exit the conversation. It takes no time or effort. If I need to, I can block the person. We can discuss issues respectfully, or not at all. Don’t get me wrong, I can fight. On issues to do with social justice, if someone is being hateful and bigoted, I don’t have to be nice to them. They are bullies and deserve to be bullied back. And it’s also so the marginalized target can see we are on their side. That we have their back.

I KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE
I do not have to have my beliefs challenged. Their viewpoint is not going to change my mind. I am open to hearing their opinions, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to change my mind. My beliefs and philosophy on life are actually very simple. I believe in truth, love, and justice. I believe in fairness. I do not see any way that those beliefs will ever change, regardless of what information I’m presented with. 

Even if I do leave my house and try and make personal connections, I still have the power to decide who I want to be around. I doubt I’m going to spend much time with people who don’t believe in the basic tenets of life, that I believe in. We can have all sorts of different opinions on all sorts of things, but not when it comes to social justice and fairness, I am unwavering. They are free to continue believing what they want to. I’m not stopping them. But I don’t have to waste much of my time in their company, do I? 

Now don’t get me wrong. I can spend time with people I disagree with, but I’m not going to necessarily argue with them about my beliefs. My beliefs will never change. Why? They are very basic. I never have to question where I stand. I stand with fairness, justice, truth, and love. It’s actually very easy for me to know where I stand in any political or social arena, or in any topic being discussed. I KNOW where I stand. 

So yeah. There are people in my life who surely have different opinions on things than I do, and that is okay. But I will never be swayed in another direction. I know what I believe in. People can’t help who they are and what they believe in. We are all made to be exactly who we have become. So I’m not going to judge anyone. At the same time I’m not going to tolerate being personally attacked for what I believe in. I am allowed to have boundaries. 

Yes, I am a sensitive person, and I shouldn’t have to be ashamed of that. If I am engaging in discourse with someone, and am personally attacked, it is difficult to remain composed and rational. I don’t want to go out in the world for the purpose of being challenged. I want to meet like-minded people, kindred spirits. People who share my ideals. Why would I want to argue with people and defend my beliefs. I don’t have to defend a single thing that I believe in. 

Yes, I do want to make human connections beyond the online arena. But at least for people like me, there are ways to be seen, other than in person. And it is valid. It is still impactful. Connections can be made. But yeah. I am trying to find a safe place where I feel comfortable, to connect with like minded individuals. People who are kind, people who care about others. I’m looking into local groups. Maybe a reading club, or a political group. Idk. But never say that I am “not real” because I am isolated. I am a real person, and I matter as much as anyone else! 

*This blog gives me a way to express my feelings, especially when I feel misunderstood or attacked. Why should I have to fight with the person when they are attacking me? I shouldn’t have to defend myself. I am who I am. Accept me as a person. Support my growth. Ugh! 

If something in my life has affected me, I feel like I should be able to write about the wider issue. Not giving any details of course.