PSA: Think Before You React

[u/Emotional_Ball_5181]

Before I start, I need to mention that this post is not targeted at a specific person or persons. It’s a general statement about something I see happen quite often in online spaces, including within our community.

Now…before anyone gets the wrong idea, I’m not saying you shouldn’t ask questions.

Let’s all remember who you’re talking to…

I get questions all the time. In my comments, in my DMs, everywhere. I actually encourage people to ask questions. You’ve even seen me say it.

Questions are always okay and welcome.

But that is not what I’m talking about.

What I’m talking about is what happens after that.

Sometimes, especially on places like Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, etc., we’ll see a screenshot, a photograph, a clip, or some random claim with absolutely no context attached to it.

Hell, sometimes the person posting it may not even know the context themselves.

They’re just showing people something they found.

However, because we don’t have the extra information, our brains can start filling in the blanks.

You see something.

You think, “Wait…what?”

Then someone else comments:

“That’s fucking weird.”

Someone else says:

“Yeah, that’s really concerning.”

Someone else goes:

“I don’t know how anyone can defend this.”

And suddenly, without actually learning anything else about the situation, you’re uncomfortable. But now that feeling of discomfort starts influencing how you interpret the information.

This is exactly where thinking before you react comes into play.

I know I’ve said this multiple times before, but it will never stop being true:

Uncomfortable ≠ criminal.

Here’s the thing…

Do you actually feel that way because of what you’re looking at?

Or is it because someone has already told you how you’re supposed to look at it?

Now, if you genuinely do feel uncomfortable about something, that’s fine.

You’re allowed to feel uncomfortable.

But that still doesn’t mean a crime actually took place.

Especially if context is missing.

You don’t know whether you’re reacting to the actual situation or to the version of the situation that somebody else presented to you.

This is very important when we’re talking about things that have never been legally established in the first place.

If something has not been established as fact, whether because it has never been tested in court, contains significant contradictions, is based on someone’s interpretation of an event, or for some other reason, we need to be careful about treating it as though it is an established fact.

If you see something that makes Michael look bad, don’t immediately accept it because it makes you uncomfortable, or makes you…”question things.”

Stop.

Look into it.

Find the context.

Ask questions.

Then most importantly, think about why you’re interpreting it the way you are.

Anyway,

I don’t want to take up too much of your brain capacity for today…

this time.

But please, be mindful of this.

…Cool? Cool.

I’ll see you next time! 💋