Human Beings First

Following the news these days makes one frustrated with all the behaviors.  Why do some people get so passionate about politics that they lose all human decency?... That story next….Last week, in the heat of the fight over defunding Obamacare, the communications chairman for the Democratic Party of Sacramento tweeted to an aide to Sen. Ted Cruz that he hoped her children “die from debilitating, painful and incurable diseases.” There were other, unrepeatable tweets, before the state party intervened and he took it back. But some people are immune to shame. After the Navy Yard shootings, an associate professor of journalism at the University of Kansas tweeted that he wished the children of NRA members would die in a mass shooting. It’s fine to hold strong opinions, but when you become so inflamed that you wish death on the children of anyone who disagrees with you, it’s hard to take your claim that you’re the enlightened one seriously.

By the way, that professor adamantly refused to take back his hateful comments, and University of Kansas officials stood behind him. That’s because colleges are defenders of free speech. Unless of course, it’s hate speech. That’s defined as advocating violence against any group that liberal professors LIKE. Make you sick?

How about in the technology field, do you get the sense that a former colleague or a direct report has strong opinions on something of the past that they wish you failure and will do what they can to facilitate failure?  Are we not human beings first and should we not have the motto of "for the success of others?" 

I encourage everyone to be engaged in the issues of today, and that includes technology.  That engagement should be positive, constructive and respectful.  Debate your views and opinion but do it in a manner that keeps you part of the solution.  Like grandma said, think before you speak, words of wisdom we can all live with.

Keep it positive!

Scott Arnett
www.arnettservicesgroup.com