Re: Walking

Ellen:
> Well, I guess I'm just a human being and I'm not perfect. And, yes, you are being mean. You're lecturing those of us who were joking about these terms and telling us that we're bad people. Are we not allowed to joke or ever lose our patience?

Oh crap.

Ellen, you're the only person taking this personally. I'm not being
mean, and I'm not lecturing. I'm adding a different perspective, and
if you're upset about it, then ask yourself why. It's not mean to
provide a different perspective.

When Tanglefoot was still together, there was a family who were
friends with them the way I was. I never met them. The wife used to
flood the comments on their website with really bad poetry. I made a
snarky remark about it once, and Al, in the patient, kind way Al had,
said that some people don't have the advantages that others do in
terms of education and experience, but they can still be sincere good
people. Wow. I felt about two microns tall, but I took his words to
heart.

I think that the people on this list as a group have generally had a
lot more advantages and experiences than many many others. I know I
have, and I haven't had the experiences that many of you all have had.
I haven't traveled widely, for example. I think Al was right. My
advantages don't give me the right to judgment. He's possibly one of
the best people on the planet.

Finally, I'm so tired of hearing "it's just a joke." I hear that in
the classroom a lot, maybe more than regular teachers because the kids
think they can get away with more with a sub. When I hear "that's gay"
and call a kid on it, I don't accept "I'm only joking" or "some people
don't have a sense of humor." I have an excellent sense of humor when
something is funny.

I don't think I'm better than anyone than myself in the past.

Donna


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You can call yourself whatever you want; it's what you do that matters.