I was reading a blog which referred to a blog so I went to the blog's blog. Say what?
I'm not going to mention it by name or link to it or anything, because this post isn't about the blog's owner, really. I don't know the dude at all. Could be a saint, could be a serial killer. I do know, though, that we have two degrees of link separation, so we've got mutual blog-friends. Besides, the last time I visited did a link-list visit, I got in all kinds of trouble.
Anyway.
The splash page of the blog has the slogan: "Tact is for pussies." The main banner is a picture of Adolf Hitler riding in a car, with the blog's owner (ice cream cone in hand) photoshopped in so that he appears to be sitting next to him.
As an ex-assistant Hebrew School teach who converted to Roman Catholicism in 2003, my first thought was: "Oh, yuck." I mean, I'm a big fan of irony and weirdness and all, but I personally don't see any reason, ever, to dilute what each and every person on the planet should think of every time they see a picture of Adolf Hitler. I feel strongly enough about it that I won't visit the blog again. Even if someone I like likes him. Even if he's a really cool dude.
I just don't want to see it.
Call me overly sensitive, but I've got no interest in peeking at a photographic Hitler cartoon on a semi-regular basis.
My second thought, though, was "I think me and this dude have different definitions of the word 'tact.'"
For me, tact isn't a weakness. It's a form of respect. And a lack of tact doesn't mean fearlessness, or not caring what other people think. Tact means "sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues." I take that to mean that approaching things tactfully is actually a sign of strength and self-confidence.
It reminds me that I need to be more tactful with my children, my spouse, and the people who work for me... that I need to approach people with their needs in mind.
Tact, baby. It's for the strong.
Anyway: the dude's blog... or at least the title and header image... gave me a good bit to think about. So I'm grateful for that. It's interesting how I can sometimes react strongly to a few little words.
Love to all. Even you, the dude who justified stealing.
6 comments:
Can I ask why you went from being jewish to catholic? i was born roman catholic and disagree with some of the really big parts of it and haven't gone to church in years (except once to ask directions). I like the food in the jewish religion better too.
Sam - I'll actually write a short post about that this weekend. That's a great question.
I love tact! I try to be tactful in most situations. But at heart I am a total geek with a penchant for the weird and uncouth. And wouldn't ya know that my outburts of weird always happen around the people that don't get it. Ahh, c'est la vie!
p.s. joking about Hitler is not cool, no matter what.
Some people, whose lives may have not been touched directly by something/someone, will be very insensitive about that thing. And, some people, are just dicks.
I'm with you, baby. Having grown up with a mother who has absolutely NO tact, it's a huge thing with me.
Being tactful is weak?
HHhhmmmm.
I think to believe in, and be, tactful, you require a fairly evolved personality. You need refinement and finesse to appreciate tact too.
Nope, it's not a weakness to me. Definitely! :)
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