Choice

[qos]

During the last six weeks at my temp job, I've logged more than 2,000 reports of violations of terms of service: images of extreme violence or sex, and vulgarity and profanity (sometimes in words, sometimes in images) directed at other users in comments. During this same period I've also reviewed at least as many violations reported by others. I've also viewed several thousand more animations that don't technically violate the terms of service but which are vulgar, in bad taste, and/or violent. And I just had an important realization.

I can respond to each of these animations -- and, by extension, their creators -- with frustration, revulsion, anger, resentment, and even despair. . . OR I can take a moment and send love and blessings to the creators.

Whether or not my few moments of blessing ever have an impact on the lives of these strangers, I know which choice will end up making my life better.

Comments

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

sometimes I think my choice of reaction is the only significant choice I make that has the prospect of bettering my own life.

Blessings, I don't know how you do it - reading a fraction of the stuff you're describing would be problematic for me.

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

The ability to choose our reactions is critical. It's something I've known for a long time, but it hadn't even occurred to me to apply that knowledge in this context until yesterday. Makes me realize how much further I have to go.

Processing this material is. . . interesting. The key to making it possible is that I don't experience it as personally violating, even when it's personally repugnant. Most of the time, however, my response is just, "Aw geez, guy. . . !" as I click the "Report Inappropriate Material" link.