Be careful what you say...

With the advent of the internet, people have decided that they do not need to have some common courtesy for their fellow man. The anonymity that the internet provides makes them feel like they can say anything. This is not true. Do you remember when you were growing up and your parents told you, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."? Well this applies to the internet as well. I am getting sick and tired of reading stories on news websites about people dying and when I scroll down to post a comment seeing comments that are just full of hate towards the person who passed. I don't care what the person was like in life, or what led to their passing, they do not deserve the hateful words that people seem to think they need to post.

I learned this evening that a good friend was involved in a motorcycle accident and didn't make it. As my friend Kathy was telling me she also informed me that people were leaving negative comments about him on the newspapers website. These (for lack of something nice to say) idiots, did not even know Kenny Black. He was a wonderful person and had always treated me with the utmost respect. He lived a wonderful life for 24 years. He was always there if someone needed him. For people to post negative comments about him just breaks my heart. One person even said that he deserved it. No one deserves to die in that way, no matter what they were doing at the time. How would that person have felt if it were their loved one or friend that had passed and someone was leaving comments like that about them? They would not like it one bit.

So I leave you with this. Before you post a comment on the internet, think carefully about what you are going to say. Because once you hit that enter button or click that submit button, it is there forever. You cannot unsay something. Put yourself in the person's shoes and think about the others that might be reading as well. I know this country has freedom of speech, but use some damn common sense and decency when posting. Someone who loved that person you are getting ready to comment on may be reading that post. You may break someone's heart. Just because you are anonymous does not mean that your words don't hurt. The saying from when you were a kid (you know "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me") is wrong. Words can hurt a lot worse than anything you can throw at a person.

With that said, my heart and prayers (I may not be Christian, but I still pray) go out to Kenny and his family. Kenny thank you for lighting this world up in the short time you were with us. You will not be forgotten and I hope you are watching us from where ever you are. You will be missed terribly. All of your friends and your family love you and this world will never be the same without you.