Mean Pictures Aren't Funny

—
Two years ago, my article, “To Me, Mean Pictures Aren’t Funny“ ran on The Huffington Post, was picked up by several other media outlets, and altogether had over a million views. Then, The Huffington Post promoted it on their Facebook page, and I got the shock of my life.

Out of nearly 900 comments, the great majority disagreed with the premise of the article. They disputed the idea that it’s wrong to take a picture of a total stranger and post it online for public ridicule. Literally hundreds of people commented that when someone goes outside looking less than perfect, for whatever reason, they are fair game to be mocked on the national stage. Many commenters also suggested I remove the proverbial stick from my ass and learn how to laugh at the less fortunate, too.

My first thought was, “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

Then I realized… Oh, yes, I do.

You respond to a lack of humanity with a great big dose of humanity.

Hateful, mean pictures show up on the Internet every day, with people gleefully leaping in to add their ugly voices to the fray. But if we can counter that — if we can think about the human side and the human cost of those pictures, we can make the world a kinder place and we can all be just a little better.

So I made the short film, Ballpark Bullies, showing what it would feel like to be innocently going about your day and discover that the cruelty of strangers has been inflicted upon you. More importantly, it gives a hint at how that picture might have happened and what the rest of us can do about it.

Everyone involved in making this film was a volunteer, and I funded it entirely myself, because we all want this message to get out there. Please watch it, share your thoughts, and if you are so inclined, share this little movie. Let’s each do our part to restore some humanity into the discourse. It’s needed now more than ever.
.

—

This post was previously published on HuffingtonPost and is republished here with permission from the author.

—

What’s your take on what you just read? Comment below or write a response and submit to us your own point of view or reaction here at the red box, below, which links to our submissions portal.

◊♦◊

Get the best stories from The Good Men Project delivered straight to your inbox, here.

◊♦◊

Sign up for our Writing Prompts email to receive writing inspiration in your inbox twice per week.

♦◊♦

We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.

If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member, today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.

A $50 annual membership gives you an all-access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class, and community.
A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group, and our online communities.
A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.