Fear

It’s amazing that one’s opinion could lead one to so much trouble. I have a friend who loves to write, and writes a lot of her opinions all over the `net. She seems to need her privacy, though. She seems to not want some of her thoughts seen.

It saddens me to see people silenced. No, she’s not really silenced. She still writes. But fear of repercussion has prevented her from publicizing all of herself.

I suppose that she has a right to privacy.

This friend of mine also deletes her entries occasionally. Regretting what she said, I suppose. I wonder why. Fear of misinterpretation of her entry over time? I’ve written entries in the past that I feel may be taken the wrong way, and I’ve gone so far as to write a public explanation for my words.

Another friend of mine seems to need to choose her thoughts very carefully. One wrong step and her boyfriend will be down her throat. She disallows comments in many of her entries because her boyfriend will question their relationship with her. Insecurity, I suppose. Many voices, silenced for the sake of one’s insecurity.

The Freedom of Speech. Fought for so hard by our predecessors, yet shut down so easily by our peers. No guns required, no angry mobs.