Sometimes despite the best efforts to surround yourself with like-minded individuals someone sneaks in under the radar and jolts you into a world you wish didn’t exist. Something I would consider a hate mail assaulted my inbox last night night. It came from a person I know on the surface. When I read it, I was shocked that someone I knew would share such a distasteful and hateful view. I was one of many recipients.
Take a Stand
The innuendos about race and religion coupled with an “us against them mentality” was much more than I would ever tolerate. My question is, what’s the best way to handle this type of email without fueling the fire and causing more hate?
Do you reply back respectfully to that individual with your views, do you reply to all respectfully with your views, do you speak to the person individually? Is there a difference if it’s a co-worker, friend or neighbor? What can we do to stop the hate? Does this one have a simple answer?
Understandable
Thanks Michael, I definitely agree with not doing anything to instigate more hate, but when I ignore something that goes so deeply against what I believe in, I walk away feeling as though I should be doing “something”.
If I don’t address it, it seems as though my silence condones it.
Since then, a couple of people on the list gave an eloquent and insightful reply to the email. I guess my post here was simply my way of not remaining silent.
Really, is it worth playing their game? I have had “hate” mail myself and I have tried both ways. Replying back with my own attitude bombing and I have just ignored it.
I found out it’s so much easier to just laugh at it and blow it off. It’s not worth going into battle mode with someone. You ignore it and you win they don’t. They want to argue so why give them what they’re looking for.
Just go on with your life and let it go.