Who do i write for?

Well, if you hung around on my social medias as a total stranger for a couple of weeks, you might have what seems like a simple and straightforward answer to this.

Commentators of Brett Fish are firmly divided into two camps: the Cheerers and the Jeerers.

THE CHEERERS

cheerleaders spelling out love

We might call them the choir. As in “you’re preaching to the choir”. As in these okes [and okesses] already get it. As in, you’re just writing stuff these people already think because you want them to cheer and pat you on the back so you feel good.

So whenever i post something on race i can be largely assured that there will be a like or thumbs up from Jenn or a Benn or Megan.

When i post something on good eating or meat-free, i am likely to receive some love from Grant or Brett.

If i post something about the church and justice then you might see Linda or Jacqui or Dave or Colin.

And so on…

If those are the only people reading, then you might be tempted to think, “What’s the point?” because they already largely think what you think and probably know what you know. Are you just doing it for the good feelings that likes and shares bring?

THE JEERERS

monty python newt

Then there’s the “Burn the witch!” crowd and i could name names as well, but i won’t.

Certain names that when i see them in my notifications drop-down on Facebook and think back to what i’ve just posted or shared, know pretty much exactly what they’re going to be saying or the kind of line they’re going to take.

Some of them i have muted or unfollowed because it gets boring after a while when the same person jumps on to the same themed-post with the same kind of mind-made-up comment that you know is simply going to lead to a fight and a bit of a waste of time because they really are not going to change their mind on this thing anytime soon.

Not all of the jeerers are trolls – some are people who just think very differently from me on topics of religion or race or justice or marriage or parenting – but i will add trolls to this group as people who seemingly have nothing better to do than jump on to posts of deep meaning and significance to me and others and simply look to start fights.

If these are the only people reading what i post, then you might be tempted to think, “What’s the point?” because they already largely think what they think and are not likely to change their minds. It can just seem to end up in back-and-forth fighting which just wastes everybody’s time as no-one here looks like they are going to be changing direction any time soon.

IF NOT THEM, THEN WHO?

i’ve tried to explain this to various people from time to time.

i do think there is merit in writing for the Cheerers, because there are things i know or find out or think or see that they might not yet, even if they generally do agree with me in some area or on some issue. A different perspective or a new analogy can often be very helpful both in learning more yourself but also in sharing with other people. For example i am a big Cheerer of someone called Jen Foster on Facebook and this morning she wrote as her status something that i completely feel the same about when it comes to people joking about rape and how that’s never okay. But how she worded it was different to how i’d thought of it before and so i shared her words on my page because they helped explain the concept better than i have been able to. There is learning to be done even among people who think a similar way to you.

And also sometimes it’s just the cheering whether in hearts or likes or shares or personal messages in the inbox that encourage you and remind you that you are on the right track or give you strength to keep going when the jeerers voices seem to be dominating.

i also think there is some merit in writing for the Jeerers. Often just in strengthening how you think about someone – when someone pushes back or makes you explain or asks you why you think a certain way, then that helps you to reconsider how you really feel about a thing and do you have the words to back up that belief and do you actually have the conviction about the thing you just posted. Jeerers are very important because when everyone is agreeing with you, then not a whole lot of new learning is going on.

And hopefully, if all goes well, and you manage to play nice, then the Jeerers can help you to stay humble. #WorkInProgress

Spongebob three

AND SOME OTHER THIRD THING

So the Cheerers and the Jeerers are both important and helpful [Trolls not so much except maybe in lessons of patience, grace and learning when to walk away] but actually, for the most part i tend to write [and argue on social medias] for this third group:

between two mountains

You see that dude in the middle. Not quite sure if he is a Cheerer or a Jeerer. Interested in the conversation going on about faith or race or women or relationships or politics or gaming… but not quite decided either way. For the most part tends to be present but not outwardly engaged and so watching and reading and listening and making up his/her mind on the sidelines.

Sometimes she does not want to comment because the Jeerers come across quite loud and aggressively and she is worried that they might take it out on her.

Sometimes he does not jump in because he kinda agrees with what is being said but still has some questions and so hasn’t fully committed in agreement as yet.

And so they watch. And wait. And listen. And sometimes they drop me a message in my inbox and we have our own private away-from-the-action conversation [i absolutely LOVE those]. And sometimes they mail me sometime in the future to let me know that this ongoing conversation i’ve been having for the last three years about white privilege just suddenly inexplicably clicked for them and they now ‘get it!’ Sometimes i never hear from them at all.

There is always someone watching. One comment means six people are engaged. One like means twenty. A retweet means fifty. Or whatever.

When i get locked into what feels like social media combat with someone who is quite obviously not going to budge and you sit there thinking, “Brett Fish, you’re wasting your time, that person is not going to change. Run away”, i generally know that and it is not about them. On a good day when i manage to keep it all together [it happens!] then hopefully the people watching will even learn from how i engage with the other person – have i been gracious and kind and loving in my responses, even though we differ? [i have a long way to go in that sometimes].

Oh and lastly i should add that you can be in this group and comment. i don’t think everyone who comments, likes or shares is necessarily a Cheerer or a Jeerer. It’s possible to be somewhere in the middle, trying to figure this stuff out, and still engaging to some extent. All i’m saying is that my focus is largely you guys.

spectrum of colours

Final lastly, i feel like this is obvious, but sometimes obvious things aren’t, but each one of us is on a spectrum when it comes to issues and topics and beliefs and stuff. Hardly anyone is completely racist or completely non prejudicial. No-one is completely 100% faith believing or 100% atheist. And so on. We might like think we are. But we are all on a variety of journeys in different areas and there is a lot to be learned and so we have to listen to each other. i really hope my words are hopeful as much as i know some people have been so vital for me in all the different significant areas of life i busy myself with.

i am some people’s Cheerer.

i am quite possibly other people’s Jeerer.

And there are a number of people for who i am the guy on the rock in the middle of the two mountains – keeping an eye on both sides, trying to figure out just where exactly i stand, and often learning from people on either side of me.

That is why i blog/speak/write/facebook fight…