Something happened in my chat yesterday that got me thinking about how we treat people online.
Someone made a comment about my voice, telling me to shut up because it didn't sound the way they expected it to. I don't personally care what others think about my voice, but i know that not everyone would be able to brush off a comment like that so easily.
There are still actual people behind the screens. People with feelings, insecurities, and experiences we don't know anything about. Something that might seem like a harmless joke to one person could geniunely hurt someone else.
You never know how much courage it takes for someone to speak up, join a conversation, or just simply be themselves. The last thing they should be worried about is being mocked for something like their natural voice.
I'm not saying that we should never express our opinions, or that we have to agree with everyone.
All I want to say is that a little empathy goes a long way.
Nobody should have to sound a certain way to deserve basic respect.
Please be mindful of what you say. You have no idea how much your words could mean to someone, for better or worse.