I blog. I’m not a blogger- it’s not my life. I work too. But I definitely blog. I barrage your facebook feed with posts. You know what I’m talking about.
I write.
You read.
We all move on.
Honestly, it reminds me too much of real life.
I talk.
People listen.
People talk.
I listen.
We move on.
Talking is nothing. Talking is useless, when it’s not followed up by action. When it’s not followed by discussion that results in change.
I talk about all kinds of things on here. Mostly about myself, and therefore I should be the only one who has to change.
But.
I want to try to make this a little more about the action and a little less about the talking.
I try to post something at least once or twice a week. Last week, I posted 3 things, because I just had that much to say. Sorry. Two weeks ago, I almost posted nothing. It was just that kind of week.
Ideally, I’d like to post twice a week.
But I don’t want this blog to be just a place for me to vent all my feelings, and then receive your support (which I very much appreciate!)
There are SO many things that I see in my life, and in others lives, that can be changed.
I want to change the world, and I’m starting to realize that to do that, it takes a lot of little actions done by a lot of “little” people.
So those big things I hate in life, can actually be changed, slowly. With all the incredible people that are in my life, and my friends lives, and my friends friends lives- isn’t that how facebook works?
I want to start posting, once a week, a post titled Let’s Talk About: ____.
Then, I beg you. Don’t just like it. Don’t just tell me you liked how it was written. (Although, you can still do those things)
Join the conversation.
Help make change.
Whether it be on facebook, or directly on my blog, help get things moving in the right direction.
You can say your opinion.
You can give ideas on how to create a better world.
Just give of you. Make this a little less of me talking, and you listening. Let’s not stop at the talking.
Let’s practice.
The first topic I want to talk about is something that I find so often. It comes from all kinds of unlikely sources- people who have lived sixty years, to twelve year olds who don’t understand what they are saying.
I’m talking about that ridiculous habit of saying things like:
“She’s so schizo”
“He’s, like, bi-polar or something”
“That’s retarded!”
You get the point.
Why do people do that?
Why?
Unless you are a mental health doctor, please don’t diagnose people with very real and very serious mental health conditions.
Whenever I ask people to stop using those words while in conversation with them, I always get a roll of the eyes.
“You know what I mean”
Um, no I don’t.
Are you trying to say that your teacher suffers from a severe psychological condition and that is what causes her to give you extra homework?
Are you trying to say that your co-worker has manic, restless highs and depressive, listless lows? Or are you trying to say that he was angry when his coffee spilled after coming in to work with a big smile? Yes, I googled it, because I care to not mis-speak about something that is extremely serious.
And are we really still using the word retarded?
Talking about this might not change the world. But it might make anyone who reads it think twice before using words like this.
They don’t mean what you are trying to say. There are millions of words in the English language. Use some other ones instead.
If we can all remind ourselves to think twice, maybe we can create a kinder world. A more thoughtful world.
Start a conversation about this with someone who uses those words frequently.
Next time you use them in a conversation, or hear someone else use them, don’t ignore it. Talk about it. Encourage other people to stop using them.
Think of the people you are talking about, and think of the people that actually in reality do deal with those issues on a day to day basis.
Let’s start being better people.
We can do it.
Share in the comments why or why not you think this is an issue in today’s world, and how you think we can make a real change.
I look forward to changing the world with you.
PS. If you or anyone you know has access to high quality filming equipment, or you want to join me on a social experimental adventure, contact me: ettikrinsky@gmail.com
ThisPublicDiary 
Hi Etti!
I absolutely agree that this is a problem, and have the same pet peeve. Though to be fair, I don’t think it’s a peeve, because it’s not just something that annoys me. Rather, I think it makes light of serious mental illnesses, and takes away from the plight of those who actually suffer from these conditions. As an English teacher (well, primary school, so I teach English amongst other things) I regularly stress the importance of choosing the correct descriptive word. We have such a rich language, why are we so reluctant to use it?
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Yes! Thank you! I feel like having an english teacher comment on this validates my point :). And yes, it isn’t just a peeve. We also need to change it! As an english teacher, do you think it important enough to bring into the classroom? To talk about this issue specifically?
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