“They only write in if they don’t like something.”
Those were the wise words of my first editor after I
received my first piece of hate mail, consider it another life
lesson I learned from being a newspaper reporter. The story in question
focused on a gay couple in eastern Connecticut that was hosting a benefit for a
friend that was fighting cancer. The fact they were gay was absolutely peripheral
to the story – it was only used to describe the two women.
In response, a fine gentleman sent me a handwritten note on
pink paper – he chose the pink paper because he said I would be able to read it
better. He continued on, labeling me with words I don’t feel like repeating and
ranting about how immoral it was to spotlight a homosexual paper in his weekend
newspaper.
“He wouldn’t say that to your face,” my editor continued. “Don’t
worry about it.”
And I didn’t. It may not seem like 2004 is that long ago, but it was. Our paper
didn’t accept Letters to the Editor by email – why I have no idea – but we need
them mailed to us. I fought this strictly because as the cubbiest of the cub
reporters, I sometimes got tasked with typing them in.
In 2013, it is far too easy to let someone know you hate
them. And as a culture, we can’t seem to stop doing it.
On Monday, a blog post I wrote in October on the Big
Ten Network hurting Big Ten football ended up on several message boards.
Why now? I have no idea. The multiple posts led to a significant increase in
traffic. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of clicking on the inbound links.
“Scribblings is a very
good title for what that "author" does. He is all over the place with
his rambling. He hardly even sticks to the point of The Big Ten Network
supposedly ruining Big Ten Football.”
“you can make a
legitimate point about the BTN networks role in the fall of B10 football.
however this article is just stupid and the author comes off as a total sec
homer.”
“Here's a really
poorly written blog post with lots of contradictions, but since everyone hates
the Big 10 here it might get some lul”
And those are the polite takedowns of my post – I didn’t
feel like copy and pasting, or re-reading, the comments about my affinity for
other men. When do you think we’ll get past “gay” as an insult to sports-loving
men? 2050? 2150?
It’s easy to pin the blame on this hate culture on social
media and the Internet. The common refrain, similar to my editor’s thoughts a
decade ago, is that it’s very easy to rip someone via a letter. It’s even
easier to do so online behind a screen name, without revealing a name or a
face.
But that’s not true anymore. Our hate culture has seeped
into every facet of mainstream life.
This morning on the Metro, my Orange Line car to my place of
employment was briefly filled with a group of Tea Party protestors on their way
to protest God knows what at the White House. Their motorcycle outfits were
adorned with buttons and stickers that alternately praised America and despised
President Obama.
Think about that – an entire political party in this country
exists essentially because it doesn’t like the President. I’ll give you one
guess on the skin
color of the 23 protestors.
It’s beyond the political party, though, as our entire
discourse over politics in this country has devolved into pure, finely
formed hate. Everyone on Fox News hates everything the Left does. Everyone on
MSNBC hates everything the Right does. Democrats hate Republicans. Republicans
hate Democrats. The Tea Party hates everybody. America is sick of everything.
How did we get here?
It’s no better in other walks of life too. On Sunday
afternoon, Robert
Griffin III nearly led the biggest comeback in Washington football history –
yes, history – as he brought them back from a 24-0 fourth quarter deficit to a
24-16 score with under a minute the play. The game ended when RG3, under
pressure, failed to throw the ball out of the end zone and it was intercepted.
What was the initial reaction? Were people calling for Mike
Shanahan to be fired for another poor start? Was there love for RG3’s gutty
performance? Were people disappointed that the Eagles and Chip Kelly’s offense
seemed to perplex Washington again?
Nope. It was just people hurling insults at RG3 for the last
play. Like
a lot of them.
Yes, these people are on Twitter, but they aren’t hiding
anything. That’s Joe Theismann
bashing RG3. These are former Washington legends and current Washington
reporters. Hate, hate, hate – that’s all there is.
I didn’t watch Miley Cyrus on the MTV Video Music Awards
because I’m an adult. But the whole world apparently did – or at least they
caught it on YouTube – and everyone joined in with their best Miley insults.
New shows? New movies? New music? New health care laws?
Hate, hate, hate – that’s all there is.
No one is immune – not
even me. The strange, new world of social media, the Internet and the ease
of sharing ideas have revealed that the feeling we most like to get out is
hate.
I hate the hate but how can it stop? Hate sells. We have
become a nation of critics that like to complain.
What struck me most about the tear-inducing story
of BatKid was how stunned we all were that people could be good – as if we
had forgotten that was possible. And even then, I heard pretentious 20-somethings mocking Make-a-Wish because their future wishes won't live up to that.
Can we enjoy anything anymore?
Why does BatKid have to be the exception while bashing Obama
on Twitter is the rule?
Nothing is going to change. I just wanted to shout out into
the wilderness that the hate culture is getting old.
BatKid, we need you every day.
Follow me on Twitter
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