Crossing a line

A subject came up recently on a social networking site I belong to and on a related subject on a blog I read. And it has to do with wanting or wishing violence or death or ill-will on someone, a public figure, an anonymous commenter, someone whose opinion is diametrically opposed to theirs. Right now, we have giant media megaphones like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh making hyperbolic claims and proclamations of opinion advocating revolution and rebellion, which, in of itself, is benign - until you get regular non-media people showing up to protest rallies and presidential speeches with loaded weapons and in some cases concealed, loaded weapons. Without commenting on the stupidity and idiocy of doing such a thing (and leave off the 2nd amendment crap, just because you can, doesn't mean you should), watching the temperature escalate where impending domestic political violence seems just around the corner has prompted some people to begin wishing the same fate on those who, well, started the whole spiral. Rush Limbaugh should die. Glenn Beck should die. And so on. But think about it. Do you really want people to die? What are you saying when you drop your opinion of death to assholes like Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, the entire Fox News crew and all the minions who follow? Isn't it really just an indication that they've managed to get under your skin, piss you off, make you mad? Wishing someone dead is not the same as really the reality of that happening. What comes around goes around. Having had some experience with people who are really, really good at getting under your skin and making you wish things that are out of character for you, better to be smart, be aware but ignore their blatherings as best you can. That doesn't mean you ignore it if someone really is carrying a gun, seems a little hostile and out of whack and shows signs that they are dangerous, but sometimes people who have ideas that are very insignificant and who are tremendously insecure are simply looking for attention. Or ratings.