Posted by Bobbie on May 10, 1999 at 11:38:42:
In Reply to: Hello Everyone, again! posted by Paul Tseng, ICS Cello Chat Moderator on May 10, 1999 at 05:48:59:
This post reminded me of something my sister emailed to me this weekend. The regular teacher for a high school class in her town had left a note for a boy that said he was in danger of failing for work not turned in. The substitute teacher read the note out loud to the class, resulting in ridicule of the student. He went home and shot himself.
It isn't that substitute teacher's fault that the student killed himself. He had to have been suicidal already. But the point is that she didn't know he wasn't suicidal. She didn't know how he would take it if she did something to embarrass him in front of the class.
We are all in a similar situation here. It is easy, anonymously, to make fun of someone or tear into them. But what is a joke to me might be terribly upsetting to someone else, and vice versa. "Be kind" should mean, be as kind as you would talking to someone who you KNEW was emotionally fragile.