HATE- The everlasting emotion that never goes away.

Sadly, after a wonderful week of news that seemed hopeful and inspiring, of course the internet social sites are flooded with hate, bullying, harassment, jealousy, and out and out threats and fury.

Am I surprised? No. I wonder about human nature, always have. We are obviously programmed to be...well, what?

Haters? Lovers? Leaders? Followers? Individuals who aspire to make a greater good, or some who get off on anonymous venom? But, maybe this is humankind.

Believe me, I know bullying- it's no stranger to me- Bullied because I am Jewish, a woman, small, write gay erotica, have some success in my career, because I was a cop, when I was a cop...oh, yes. Bullied to the point of no return recently. But brought back to life once more, although I wonder if I should have been.

Can anyone know what it is truly like to live another person's life? No. We can empathize. EMPATHY. What a novel concept.

With the media warring on polar opposites of the right and left, we are bombarded with, hate- fear- ignorance-
is it any wonder its rubbing off? We have a perfect venue for anonymous hate and anger.

Though the internet is a marvel and has done so many wonderful things for us, humans, it has also created an open space for so many evils. Not only hate, but piracy, ID theft, believe me, the list is endless.

Which brings me back to human nature.

When people do kind things, videos go viral as if...OMG! someone did something kind! I can't believe it!

We feed off hate? Do we? Do we get off on demeaning others because our own lives lack in some ways? After the slight feeling of lightness at what was a step towards treating all humans as equals, am I surprised the internet is once again filled with fear and loathing? Sadly, no.

It is what I have come to expect from turning on my computer daily. Taking down illegal downloads of everything I have worked my arse off to create, and watching hate run up and down my computer wall. My answer? I hide in my stories of love. Is it any wonder authors, musicians, poets, artists, create worlds of beauty to sink into?

We obviously are programmed as creatures who enjoy hate- enjoy seeing others in pain- does it make you feel good about yourself? Adding to a miserable commentary to demean and degrade another? I don't find joy in it. I see our species as a whole, and am not very pleased. But, heck, who am I to judge? I will disappear one day, like we all will, be gone from the planet and forgotten in a few years.

What will you be remembered for? What will your contribution be? That you satisfied yourself by lashing out or that you did good by others?

I can only look in the mirror and judge myself. I am no one else's judge. And if you look into a mirror, what do you see?

Be safe out there.
Life can be hell.