You know I am constantly amazed at the hate I read on the Internet.
Is it me, or has our society become meaner?
I personally abhor the rude, the angry, and those that belittle and tear down.
And yet these seem to be the people most likely to be rewarded in our world.
Are TV shows where hopeful but untalented singers who get “ambushed” by producers funny? Are acerbic bloggers in the guise of being “edgy” or “honest” really the best we can hope for in a discussion? Does anger really aid communication?
I am guilty of not always being polite. I have been acerbic myself in the quest to be entertaining or to simply get attention. And I always regret it. The volume level on hate seems to be turned so high on any given day sometimes we feel like it’s the only way to be heard.
I am suggesting that we turn it down.
Anger is for people who fear. And we have nothing to fear.
A little more love please, a little less attention paid to the mean and the angry — no matter how entertaining.
If it takes being mean to be heard in order to sell a script or a TV show, I’d rather not play.
And I certainly would rather not watch.
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That’s why you’ve become so popular – you are one of the nicest, most even keel people I’ve ever met. And, in Hollywood!
Very well said Blake. Little to add. This seems to be growing in a bad way. The earth seems to be flattening again.
My first rule when I hire people. Nice, warm hearted comes before talent.
It’s just films. It’s supposed to be fun. I dislike very much all the pushing around in this business, i’d rather stay in my corner, be under-budget and just do my thing.
Sending warmness :) Olaf
Blake, I adore you! Thanks for being so rad.
TC
blake, your pure spirit is a true inspiration — to be able to be in hollywood and keep your soul. you’ve inspired me and obviously countless others with not only your craft, but your heart and spirit.
i watched the news shows 2nite again in dismay that the world is a dark place on the edge of destruction,
but i have love and craft in my life. it’s OK. we will push on. you made my night.
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Let it be our goal to give people reason to feel good about themselves
Well said, anger and hate can ony destroy, the true creative power in the universe is love.
You are right.
For some stupid reasons people seem to like /or to react to/ evil easily than to good.
Leo Tolstoy said something like:” every happy family is happy in the same way, every unhappy – in the unique way”… I guess it is kind of attractive, especially for the film-makers.
Blake, It is a great initiative to start something against that vast negative trend, in Internet and Film-industry. And blogger, as powerful opinion-creators, could really contribute a lot!!!
I must admit, I am not typical a film-consumer:) But you might be interested in my post on “why I almost never watch films” :http://1000petals.wordpress.com/2007/05/30/why-i-almost-never-watch-films/
thanks for the post and keep up the good job!
I don’t believe the world’s getting more hateful or angrier. I think hate and anger arise in the world to be dealt with. As you say, people who are afraid often resort to hatred or anger. People who feel threatened resort to hatred and anger.
But the actions of the hateful and the angry only help highlight how important kindness and understanding is in our world. As my grandfather used to say, there’s no such thing as a total failure; they can always be used as a bad example for everyone else.
I think in moments of personal weariness, we sometimes believe the hate or anger appears overwhelming or increasing. It’s not. It’s just that at that moment, it’s impact (due to our momentary state) seems overwhelming.
The antidote for hatred is love. The antidote for anger is love. There is no antidote for love.
Don’t be dismayed that there is still anger and hatred in the world. There has been since the beginning of time. And since the beginning of time the majority of people are trying to set every wrong right.
I agree Blake, there’s much too much Hate out there. We’ve all lost the ability to just let it roll off our backs~Water off a duck’s back, I always say. It takes more effort to remain silent than to simply gush. I try not to gush. Gush only when it truly matters.
But there is a balance…kinda. Some good is still out there, hard to find at times, but it does pop up now and again.
Sometimes it’s like Dominos. Smile at one person, be kind to one person and the likelihood of it picking up steam is natural.
So, yes! Less anger, more Love :)
Dear Kordt, while your arguement that the amount of hate is “relative”is respectable and possibly true, you’re missing the point.
Even if the level of hate is the same as it was relative to population, growth, etc. — the world is much more connected now than EVER before in history. There is NO relative comparison to the speed at which hate can travel via the Internet, TV, and radio these days. Therefore, the small act of hate that we would have never known about before, can now reach the world in minutes.
The flip side, and I think Blake’s point, is that we need to counter balance the “new availibity of negative things streaming 24/7” with more positive messages and fill hearts with joy, hope, and love. And a sense of reason.
****************************
Comment by Kordt Larsen
July 14, 2007 @ 9:56 am
I don’t believe the world’s getting more hateful or angrier. I think hate and anger arise in the world to be dealt with. As you say, people who are afraid often resort to hatred or anger. People who feel threatened resort to hatred and anger.
But the actions of the hateful and the angry only help highlight how important kindness and understanding is in our world. As my grandfather used to say, there’s no such thing as a total failure; they can always be used as a bad example for everyone else.
I think in moments of personal weariness, we sometimes believe the hate or anger appears overwhelming or increasing. It’s not. It’s just that at that moment, it’s impact (due to our momentary state) seems overwhelming
This provocative blog was worthy of the responses it received!
Personally, I’d like to see this character/movie played out.
Can we come up with a character/story about a good guy who suddenly, for some unspecific reason, finds himself feeling “a wave of hatred” emanating from society. He can’t put his finger on why or from where these feelings are coming from and it takes him on an extraodinary psychological and real world journey?
Let’s write it!
:0))