If you can be anything, be kind....

[BeAnythingBeKind]

Its such a simple thing, and can make all the difference.

We are all guilty of it, me included, So instead of making negative comments about the work colleagues, fellow school mum's, stranger on the bus...Say something kind, you never know, it could just make all the difference. No-one really knows what people are going through.

Anyone who wants to vent/talk/cry....Please feel free to let rip here, It's OK not to feel OK

I so agree with this, I’ve always said something like ‘pretend who you are talking about can secretly hear you, so don’t say anything they may find hurtful’, it works for me. I have 4 children and I try and tell them to be kind too. This weekend my son, 8, was playing football and someone on his team scored an own goal. I saw him walk up to him after and have a word. When the game finished I asked him what he said as I panicked he may have said something harsh. He said ‘I asked him if he was ok as he slipped just before he scored the own goal and I was worried he’d hurt himself’. I was so proud of his answer.
I think a lot of people see me as a bit weak, a bit of a softie, not very good at standing up for myself, etc but I think I’m ok and just choosing to let some things go over my head. Be nice.

I think i'm a kind person generally & agree that it's a personality thing. I'm on the fence about the "be kind" stuff because like another pp what does that mean? And it can be used as a silencing tool. Should we be kind & not criticise Kim Kardashian for promoting a morning sickness drug?

I give people, even twats a chance. But if they want to continue acting like a twat, believe me kindness is out of the window and I will destroy them.

And should people ‘be kind’ about say, Nigel Farage? Or is he fair game? How do you decide?

Excellent point or Donald Trump?

No, I won't Be Kind. I'll treat people as I usually do, it's worked for me for 60 odd years. I read a book when I was young and there was a character called Mrs Do as you would be done by. I stick with that.
I don't need or want a load of random posts telling me to Be Kind.
A young woman has died by suicide, that's shocking, terrible and tragic as all such deaths are.
Just because she was in the public eye, that doesn't make her tragic death any more or less tragic.
Fuck off with your sanctimonious self serving Be Kind shit.

I think I am kind. I try.
Kind to others but not to myself. I think you need the right balance, you need to be kind to yourself as much as to others. Sometimes more so.

Absolutepower has more or less said what I wanted to say.

All of the people wittering on about "be kind" and "if you can't say something kind then shut up" are - in my experience at least - the people a, least likely to practice the bullshit they're spouting and b, the same people gobbling up tabloid stories about people like Caroline Flack.

I have seen arguments on my social media timeline where people have expressed opinions (not about this particular person) and basically been told that they should "be kind". One day into this meme and it's already being used by some as a means to silence others.

Do as you would be done to, speak as you find, and be mindful of others but do not feel obligated to be kind.

In recent years I've come to the conclusion there are some people that don't deserve my kindness. It doesn't mean that I will purposely be rude or disrespectful but if someone is continually horrible nowadays I will tell them, in the most polite way, that they are being arseholes. It's surprisingly liberating and good for the ego to not be a doormat for other people's bad behaviour.

Regarding Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, I think the same principle applies - it's not right to personally attack either of them by name calling or inane protests with balloons, but it is right to point out the flaws in their policies and attitudes.

I am surprised at how many people have needed a tragic event to realise that it is good to be kind to others.

If I can be anything , I'd rather be Batman.

This is bullshit. Navel gazing, self congratulatory, pat on the back bullshit.
If it was that important to you,that relevant you would've made this thread a long time ago. Or you know... you'd just be "kind" whatever that means.

Kindness. It is taught in early years and then expected. We are all capable of forgetting. Practice makes perfect though and we all need reminding.

Alongside it we need to teach young people that unkind behaviour is not acceptable. They should not be seen as a snitch for reporting unkind behaviour.

I'm not telling anyone what to do or how to behave, we all make our own choices. I was just trying to be nice and reach out to those who may have needed it, hence the last bit of my post.

‘When they go low, you go high’ is great advice.

@BeAnythingBeKind, it's a lovely post and I feel your sentiment.
If nothing else comes out of Carolines death, it might remind people that words hurt and to be mindful of that .

I think that many people are generally very guilty of being far too judgy . People forget that being criticised on line even from a stranger is horrible....please let’s all try to be kind 💕

Agree.

Alongside it we need to teach young people that unkind behaviour is not acceptable.

Except that there is a rise in people believing that anything they don't like/don't agree with/doesn't fully validate them is "unkind".

I will be well mannered to everyone, but not kind. Kindess, like respect, is something you earn.

Yes, its bonkers isn't it Panic both behaviours are unkind.

Its emotionally blackmailing to claim hurt from someone disagreeing, so very unkind.

Its interesting that even on a thread inviting tye idea of kindness, that such unkindness is still displayed.

I agree OP, a good message and motto to live by, there's no need to be nasty and unkind to others, or attack those for having a different view to you, especially where you claim emotional distress because of it, thats just nasty.

Fuck off with your sanctimonious self serving Be Kind shit.

Well, aren't you a treat. Would it really have killed you to keep that to yourself so the thread could continue in which the OP started it?

I'd also argue that you're deeply cynical if you presume someone is 'sanctimonious' and 'self serving ' simply for suggesting we could all do with being a little kinder.

One of my work colleagues is so judgemental on FB might screen shot her ‘be kind’ bandwagon post & send it back to her when she inevitably slags someone off in a few weeks time!

I'd also argue that you're deeply cynical if you presume someone is 'sanctimonious' and 'self serving ' simply for suggesting we could all do with being a little kinder.

It's not cynical to recognise a "trend". Atm the whole be kind thing is everywhere,from everyone ,including on here. The whole world is puking kindness,and half of them don't even know what it means. No one has reinvented the wheel. No one is actually suddenly kinder, or even more self aware. They're just using a recent tragic event to draw attention to themselves and their new found epiphanies. It always happens then it gets forgotten, until the next tragic event.

Sadly, everyone seems to be out for themselves these days and don't seem to care who they trample on to get where they want to or what they want. Kindness barely exists and it's made me quite sceptical. I try to be kind but it's difficult when people shit on you in return or take the piss. So I reserve my kindness for only some. Not that I'm unkind but I don't always go out of my way like I once did. Thats the result of the way things are that's made me like that.

I always find it amusing how kindness is sometimes interpreted as being a softie or a doormat. To me it doesn’t mean putting up with shite or being quiet in the face of people who are being unreasonable / abusive / aggressive / cheeky or otherwise. I think it just means trying to remember there’s a person underneath whatever face or persona someone has on when you encounter them and you try to treat them with dignity and good will. Sometimes as the saying goes you have to be cruel to be kind, or kindness means speaking an uncomfortable truth. The endless memes this weekend on it are wearing thin on my nerves, hopefully though there is a growing awareness within people that throwaway cruelty online and trial by social media has real life consequences and it might be best to think twice before commenting or tweeting about someone.

By all means try not to be unkind. But kindness is not always the most appropriate response. The idea of balancing wisdom and compassion is a better ideal.