http://www.bensbits.com/?disp=comments en-US http://backend.userland.com/rss 60 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:35:09 +0000 Rob Word [Visitor] c9672@http://www.bensbits.com/ I have a professional life and a personal life. Facebook blurs the line between the two, but I'm careful to keep a certain distance from reality in my facebook postings. <br /> <br /> On the other hand, I used to find myself holding back on the comments I'd make, causes I'd support, etc. Don't want to offend someone, right? But the truth is I was self-censoring for fear that my words would be used against me. <br /> Reality is, if someone is going to do business with me, elect me president, etc. it better damn well be based on measurable qualifications, not how good I am at PR.<br /> <br /> The responsibility that comes with making sometimes offensive statements is learning to take other people's statements lightly. If I judge a politician or friend for some behavior or view they've abandoned years ago I'm no better than the employer who dismisses a highly qualified candidate for personal views or outside-of-work lifestyle choices.<br /> <br /> Might I change my beliefs and viewpoints sometime in the future? Probably. I certainly have in the past. But I won't ever regret making a statement to support those viewpoints today, because I'm able to understand people, values, and attitude change.<br /> <br /> I'd much rather support a politician who's had the courage to take a stand, even an unpopular one, than someone who fails to act for fear of the future.
On the other hand, I used to find myself holding back on the comments I'd make, causes I'd support, etc. Don't want to offend someone, right? But the truth is I was self-censoring for fear that my words would be used against me.
Reality is, if someone is going to do business with me, elect me president, etc. it better damn well be based on measurable qualifications, not how good I am at PR.

The responsibility that comes with making sometimes offensive statements is learning to take other people's statements lightly. If I judge a politician or friend for some behavior or view they've abandoned years ago I'm no better than the employer who dismisses a highly qualified candidate for personal views or outside-of-work lifestyle choices.

Might I change my beliefs and viewpoints sometime in the future? Probably. I certainly have in the past. But I won't ever regret making a statement to support those viewpoints today, because I'm able to understand people, values, and attitude change.

I'd much rather support a politician who's had the courage to take a stand, even an unpopular one, than someone who fails to act for fear of the future.]]> http://www.bensbits.com/2006/03/24/your_digital_life#c9672 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:50:59 +0000 Jana [Visitor] c9671@http://www.bensbits.com/ Nah, I think we're getting more tolerant of the human-ness of our elected officials. After all, our current pres smokes (occasionally) and admitted to trying cocaine, right? http://www.bensbits.com/2006/03/24/your_digital_life#c9671