Ignoring

[Chava]

@FridayJones great tip! I'm not going to test it out and block you because I'm too flaky to remember to unblock, and the forum would definitely lose too much color without your posts (yet I'd be too dense to figure out what's missing...I'm on the level of realizing things exist only if I see them)

 

[joeylittle]

Thanks, @Chava - I really do hear you, and

I respect your examination of things @joeylittle

Right back atcha.

how can you not respond if someone is actually abusing How Do you ignore that?

That is a hard thing. No easy answer there. One thing that is important is remembering that this is the internet, where people can say anything. So you have to factor how much the response you want to make has to do with what you need to say, for you to feel right by your own conscience, and how to do that without being invested in the outcome - because we can't really fix things over the internet. Lots of times, I post things because it matters to me that I say them. I hope they will affect change in some way - but affecting that change is actually not something I can feel an attachment to.

Honestly, tho, it's hard (I think) for many of us, on many different threads. So there's ignoring, and then there's saying what you want to say and stepping away, and then there's being deep enough into the topic that you don't believe you can step away and still be right with yourself. Those are the times where - if the topic is about an individual and their actions - it's helpful to remember that you don't really know the situation, only what this one person is saying about it. I don't know if that helps. And also, that no matter how hard you try, you can't change someone else. (I know you know this, it's the frustrating thing about giving a shit, that there is eventually a dead end, where people and change is concerned).

 

[anthony]

I have not responded to any of those threads myself, but I think that those of you who have honestly tried to help should be commended for this. I think it's great that there are people here who will take the time to help another in need. It's sort of like do your best to help another, but at that point you have to let it go and trust that the person will take in what you've said and use your feedback to better themselves. If the person subsequently engages in negative behavior, you have the power to not put yourself out there again.

Extremely well stated and accurate. If I could like that a thousand times, I would.