Un-Aimed Ramble About Positivity, Consideration and Respect

I just saw this post sitting in my drafts folders and figured I'd post it... unlike so many other rambles that shall remain in the un-posted draft folder cemetery...


I've (surprisingly) received a few comments and compliments about my general positive nature on the forums. I guess they weren't looking when I was complaining about gating costumes and exclusivity or about when they had temporarily removed Mystic Fortune's prompt (yes, you heard that right, heehee)... I'm just teasing though. I do try and approach my time here as considerately as I can (no one is perfect though, nor should they try to be; imperfection is the beauty and reality of life).

Seriously, after a quick bit of contemplation on it, there's a very simple reason why I try to be polite and fair and positive on these forums (and I attempt to carry this through all of my interactions, in all walks of life)...
(severe understatement follows):
Life can be hard. All on its own, with no help from anyone. Life can really be frickin' hard and hand anybody some terrible, lousy and bad stuff without a moment's notice. You never know what anyone you are dealing with may be going through or may have gone through.
Is it really so much to ask to treat everyone with the consideration that you would if you knew they'd just been delivered one of life's atomic-gut-punches? I, personally, don't think so. I can handle the minimal energy it takes to treat people kindly (while I'm still rather upfront and straightforward, mind you).

Whether it's an illness, a disability, an injury, the death of a loved one, financial problems, abuse of many kinds, even just as simple as a really bad frickin' day... why would I ever, especially on a video game forum where we all come for fun (or information about our fun pastime, at least), want to add to that person's bad time? I want to help make that person smile, even just a little. Sometimes that's the only damn thing that you have to make things just marginally better for a brief moment... but smiles and laughter are grade-A priceless and powerful.

Anyway, I am no grand hero of internet positivity, hehehe... and I don't mean any of this to come off as egocentric (although, how could I know and prevent that if it truly is, muhahaha?) and I am certainly not acting like I truly live up to being some paragon of awesomeness... lol (not in this regard, at least... b'dum pshh). I just felt like it might be worth saying and might spark some positive thoughts in people's minds or even just be an interesting slant for some people to read/consider.

Have you ever been in a line of traffic and you let someone (or a few cars, even) pull out of a sidestreet or parking lot in front of you? Every once and a while, you'll see the obvious signs of someone who really appreciated that. I mean, it's a little silly... it's really no big deal if I am a few car lengths further back and slightly more delayed than I would have been if I hadn't let them in... but they wave graciously and smile big... and, best of all... if you stick in the same line of traffic long enough, you very well may see them let some cars in as well (Ack, I now see the failure of my plan... I end up great multiples of car-lengths behind if I had not let the others in front of me! Oh noes, lol).
So, yeah... besides being polite and considerate... I attempt to throw in a large splattering of humor (whether anyone else likes it, I don't know, but I enjoy it, lol... Ahhh, the wonderful power of smiling, hehe). You better understand, I'm here to be entertained as well... so, yeah, sometimes it may come at your expense, but I'll leap to making up for it if I mess up too much!

Yours truly, Electric-Knight, Esquire

I like what you said in your post and thank you for taking the time to write and post it.

I give this topic a +1, a Thumbs Up, and a couple of Likes. Well-said.

When I worked Security in the lobby of a company I would rather not name, I made it a point to greet every one that came in through the doors in the morning with a smile and a "Good morning". On Friday's (or Thursday's, if the following Friday was an off-Friday), I made it even better by greeting them with a "Happy Friday" (or Thriday if it was Thursday). I figured that if they can start thir day with a smile, the day might not seem quite so bad by the time they go home. I also loved watching they confusion on their faces when they heard Thriday (or Muesday, Twednesday, or Wursday for that matter).

It took very little effort from me, even when I was having a bad day, and it (maybe) helped them have a better day. Especially during those short weeks once they figured out that Thriday was the end of the work week for them.

The one that never ceases to amaze me is the response I get from servers when I say "please" and "thank you". I sometimes wonder if my friends and I are the only ones who do that. No joke - they have stopped what they're doing and just stared at me, then blurted out, "I don't think I've ever had someone say 'please' to me before!"

Or, because John and Chris both go through copious amounts of club soda and iced tea, respectively, I usually warn the servers with, "Hey, just a heads-up, these two drink like fish. If things get really busy, you might want to bring two at a time so you don't have to do that Flight of the Bumblebee thing. Trust me, they won't mind." The servers almost always laugh and thank me for the warning, and it makes things a bit easier for them.

I figure there's enough a**hats in the world, so I try to offset it by making people smile.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Well said!
+1

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

*Salutes*

+1

Very well said. I am going to miss these forums and all of the forumites so much.

Your attitude is commendable, and I've found it to be one of many bright lights in these final days. Thank you.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Awww...
You all are a bunch of lame jerks!!!!



Haha, I had to go for that punchline... my apologies!

I am glad that the ramble was enjoyed/appreciated by someone. Likely preachin' to the choir, but it's always nice to know that we're not alone.

Thank you all! And, please, keep up the good work.

Thank you, Electric-Knight, for sharing!

And if those here who like Positivity, Consideration and Respect are in a choir, may it be our song for life.

Keep being heroes!

I completely agree. Having learned all this the hard way from these forums over the last 5 years. To be more exact after posting lots of stoopid stuff and being modsmacked and told off over the last 5 years.