The Name Is the Frame

A name is a sort of frame for a picture. For me Thorn, my artist moniker, (which actually is part of my name) is the perfect frame for the picture that is my artwork and advocacy work. Because I received resistance with the various types of artwork and advocacy work that I do (for the incarcerate,formerly incarcerated, and equitable public art access) I began to embrace the resistance. Interestingly enough, I was listening to the book The New Jim Crow and heard a couple thoughts on ‘Gansta Rap Culture’ in what I feel is the proper perspective: “there is nothing abnormal or surprising about a stigmatized culture embracing their stigma”. It is all in an effort to find the positive in the negative. That describes me accurately for sure: definitely always trying to find the positive in all situations.

A name is a sort of frame for a picture. For me Thorn, my artist moniker, (which actually is part of my name) is the perfect frame for the picture that is my artwork and advocacy work. Here’s at least part of the story.

Let's Break The Wheel!! For Reals This Time.

Photo Credit: Katie Awad

An Artist By Any Other Media.

Last summer after I finished up my last show, Play Play, I came across an announcement for another visual art show. It was a group show. Many people doing several different kinds of work were included. Group shows are always interesting at least for that reason alone. I was caught off guard when I saw they were charging a $10 entry fee. Ten dollars? Who pays to get into a visual arts show? There’s no performance right? I checked the announcement again and saw that there wasn’t. Even though I wasn’t planning to go, I was annoyed.

First I was annoyed at the audacity: Charge for a visual arts show ? Pffffffft!! (Imagine me doing this with a dramatic flick of my hand.) Then I was annoyed with myself: why shouldn’t a visual artist charge to see their work? Musicians do. Dancers do. In various places and spaces they even have tip jars present. Why shouldn’t a visual artist charge for the privilege of seeing their work? I commend these artists for not only banding together to show their work, but also asking to be compensated in a way that visual artists aren’t usually. I can admit when I”m wrong. I was.

Though I’m pretty sure it wasn’t necessarily their aim, but they should also be acknowledged for their efforts to break the wheel.

What’s This “Break the Wheel” Nonsense?

''Break the wheel” is a Game of Thrones reference. Though the show has ended there is still so much that has been learned from it! So good! But I digress. Just in case you’re not into GOT I will spare you a long synopsis of the show by saying the phrase is shorthand for changing a broken, ailing, and corrupt system that benefits only a few. Especially if it isn’t working really. I can definitely say that artists not being compensated for their work but still expected to do it for free and with a flourish is not even a real system at all. It’s not just artists that have to work to break the wheel but anyone who loves art and wants to support the artists who make it.

But It’s Not My Fault, Is It? Actually It Is.

The same society that teaches us that artists should be poor, that artists should be starving, and still have 5 jobs to cobble together an income is the same one that tells us there is no reason to compensate an artist for their work. More often than not we pay to see work in museums. I paid to get into individual shows when I attended Art Basel a couple years ago. Why shouldn’t gallery shows or any other type of show where you see work on the walls or sculpture in the room charge entry? I freely admit I had been brainwashed by the same system. I’d participated in the system that said I don’t need to get paid because I love my work. Shouldn’t we all love our work though (a topic for another day!)?

Though it’s scary, I’ve decided that I am changing the way I think about my work. It’s about to get a little crazy probably. But that’s ok right? We are breaking the wheel!!! I want you to join me for the ride.

I Want You, Yes YOU!

I LOVE MY WORK!!!! Sometimes it’s like being in love and I want to shout it from a rooftop. I want everyone to be a part of it. I want my own art tribe. I want to be able to talk to people about my work. Share what I’m up to! All of the facets of my work and know I’m sharing with my crew, people who care!

Patreon (a site that houses the space where you can support me directly) and creating an opportunity for fans of my work to become a member of my tribe is one way I am working to change things. Fans of my work who want to see me finally finish a project I’ve been working on for the past two years can support me directly and mark my progress on various projects. This is a part of me breaking the wheel. This could be the first step for a lot of us. Take a look at my page here. Become a member of my art tribe.

Let’s Do This!

#NotAFan But I Really Want To Be.

Opinions Are Not Safe Spaces.

I am not a fan of Beyoncé or Jay-Z.

There. I said it. Out in the rest of the world.

I am saying this out in the rest of the world that has become obsessed with them as individuals, become obsessed with their children, her pregnancies, more obsessed with these two personalities than they are with living their own lives in general. In a world that has become obsessed with only spending time with and interacting with those who only ‘like’ what they like. In a world that has become obsessed with ‘safe spaces’ and a lack of intellectual discourse on why we might individually disagree on why coffee ice cream is the best and agree to disagree having heard each other out.

Sure, I like some of his beats and whoever she has chosen to do the styling and choreography for her videos have powers on the creative scale that are pretty amazing (Pharrell is wondrous), but I am not a fan. I don’t know Beyoncé Knowles-Carter or Shawn Carter. Not personally. So what I am not a fan of are their public personas; Of what they are putting out into the world that will stand as their legacy. This is something every artist has the opportunity to choose and painstakingly craft for ourselves. Our brand. Our public persona. Don’t we? Most of us don’t have a team of 20 to help us do it though.

Voldemort.

I remember a while ago, I said I wasn’t a fan of Beyoncé’s public persona at an art show during a conversation, before I became a little more leary of how obsessed others become with the lives of others. After I said, it there was a sharp intake of air from the guy I was talking to. He choked and sputtered a little bit, gave me a very suspicious once over. His response was not unlike someone overhearing some foolish character in Harry Potter saying ‘Voldemort’. Isn’t an art show of all places a space where we can discuss what we aren’t quite in alignment with and why? Isn’t this where discussions with obnoxiously, pompously smart people happen? Oh… Ok. No? I was obviously mistaken. Pardon my ignorance. Keep my real opinions to myself. Right.

We didn’t talk again after that. Not being a part of the Beyhive to him meant we were incompatible, even as just friends. Call me crazy but I think that’s weird. Since when don’t I have the room in any relationship to not like exactly what you do? Is this who we’ve become as a country. Just joking. That’s obviously rhetorical. Look what’s going on with us politically.

#Sad | #Genius

For the first time, recently, I saw all of the “Apeshit” video. (Sure I’m a little late on this but does it matter?) Heard all of the lyrics. I came to understand that fame is a disease. It is really a monster. I don’t know who said it first but Gaga made it famous: Fame is a monster. It’s dirty. It changes things. The lyrics writhe and revel in the idea of fame and public validation:

“I said no to the Super Bowl: you need me, I don't need you
Every night we in the end zone, tell the NFL we in stadiums too
Last night was a fuckin' zoo
Stagedivin' in a pool of people
Ran through Liverpool like a fuckin' Beatle
Smoke gorilla glue like it's fuckin' legal
Tell the Grammy's fuck that 0 for 8 shit
Have you ever seen a crowd goin' apeshit? “

Have I ever? Umm…well, first I don’t every really refer to anyone really in terms that compare them to animals. It insults animals and people at some point and then you know the history of brown people being referred to as apes and such? Right? Have I ever seen a crowd going ‘crazy’? Sure. For me? No. That group of people is relatively small. Most of us have no experience with playing stadiums. Of course you don’t need the NFL, but you do know what they use those stadiums for right?

If this is all for the sake of being ‘ironic’ or if this is a caricature or parody of a self-centered, self-contained universe and I didn’t get it, well, what can I say? But if it isn’t…

My only question would be if this was all anyone ever heard about you, heard from you, experienced of you…Would you be satisfied? Is this what you’d want others to know and remember?

I loved the video (I am honestly a fan of most of Beyoncé’s videos). Love. What’s genius: juxtaposing yourself (as artist) with some of the most famous and recognizable pieces of art (even for those who don’t study art). Genius: being posed as royalty in a world where the worth of brown skin seems to have taken a sharp nose dive (prison industrial complex anyone?). Genius: cinematography, choreography, styling. Genius: having dance leotards correspond to the color of each dancers’ skin. Therefore giving it value and importance. Genius: using an institution ( the Louvre) that houses some of the most famous works of art in the world, where most of said works of art have those of us whose skin is on the darker side of brown, usually just depicted as slaves or servants and rarely in positions of power. Baby? Haven’t we arrived? Insert The Jeffersons (or something more recent and relevant) theme song here.

It takes bravery, even when you’re already loved and accepted as a certain type of artist to do something conceptual and different. To play the long game and go a little deeper. Like any other artist, it’s taking a chance that some will get what you are attempting to convey and others won’t.

What’s sad for me though: the lyrics; for both of them. Their work together and separately. That’s it. Nothing else I really don’t like. But isn’t that all? Aren’t lyrics everything? Or at least a huge part of the music experience? A great beat has its place, but I digress…I believe in everyone’s right to express themselves and not give a sanitized version just for the sake of public consumption. We are multifaceted beings. But. You have to take a bath a some point don’t you? Clean your house at some point, right? Face the sun at some point. Or don’t I guess…But I say show your smart self. Use the vocabulary that some don’t believe brown people possess. Evolve. Do more. Be more. Be something other than a stereotype. Being something other than a stereotype does not mean becoming something that is simply easily digestible and that doesn’t shake people.

Here is a word puzzle/analogy/SAT word association: Painting is to hanging on someone’s wall behind their coordinated sofa as Popular Music is to elevator music.

What artist strives to simply hang on the wall in someone’s kitchen (I guess it might depend on who’s kitchen to some) or be Muzak? Not many. It depends on what your goals are. Most artists want to be relevant. Not just part of a conversation but the entire conversation or those who change the conversation. When I think about music I think of playing it in my car and the people next to me hearing it, am I proud of what I am playing at eardrum bursting decibels? I think of young impressionable children being influenced by it. Are they encouraged to change the world, be creative, love…or “go apeshit"? It is the same way I feel about the art I create. I want to meet people where they are and take them on a journey. When people ask me to explain my work and speak about it intelligently I need to be able to do so without putting up walls that others can’t see around or get over don’t I?

A pet peeve of mine with other artists though is feeling that you have to put negativity into the world in order to add gravity to its meaning. In order for people to understand that darkness exists you don’t have to use the vocabulary of darkness or inject it into everything. For people to pay attention. Not only the dark side is meaningful. The balance is the meaning. Negative is already there. It always is. Without me or anyone else creating more of it.

The words! It’s about the words! You can’t change history. Even something as powerful as art can’t change it. You can paint it differently. That’s all. It is just a fact. Just like you can’t erase slavery or turn it into something positive, you can’t take n**** and turn it into a ‘positive’ word. It’s not my word. It’s not your word. It is hate manifest as a word. For me it affects the way I absorb anything.

Be More Than The Brand.

What I am a fan of as far as Beyoncé being and entity unto herself, Jay-Z, and The Carters as a partnership is the business sense. The branding. The polish. The vision. Magnificent.

My challenge to them and any artist honestly is to forget about the hubris, fame and all of its trappings. Do your work. Do good work. Be more than the brand. Be deeper. Be more than the polish. Understand the legacy. Be more than the words. Convey meaning. Be more than just Hip-Hop royalty, the manifestation of a bygone era that benefits from hierarchy, caste, women bumping and grinding/staying in their place, and stepping on the neck of someone else to validate a sense of self-importance. Be regal and be artists with a conscience and a true understanding of how what they make affects the world around them.

The Fear Factor. What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?

The Fear Factor. What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid? 

Though I haven’t read Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book Leaning In yet (it is on my reading list), one of the main ideas central to the book that I’ve been hearing about has resonated with me: fear. Fear of what people think of you. Fear of what you cannot do. Fear of what you haven’t even tried yet. Fear of taking a first step. Fear of trying something never attempted before. Fear.

It is amazing how something intangible can control us and mold us. It is impossible to believe that it isn’t a walking and talking entity isn’t it? Physically holding us back and blocking our way. 

Oh, the Things You Could Do….

There is a quote: “To get something you’ve never had you must do something you’ve never done.” How is it possible to do anything with fear standing in your path? What would you be able to do if you didn’t allow all of those silly things you are afraid of get in your way? The answer honestly is not much if you allow it to stop you dead in your tracks. What I’ve found is that the root of most fear grows from thoughts of what someone else is going to think about you. My question is why do you care so much about what someone else thinks about you? Attempting to read someone’s mind is a tiresome exercise and rarely yields the results that you hope for. Why not care more about how you will feel knowing that you missed a great opportunity because you were scared to take a chance?

What would you do though? Would you take those tango lessons?  Would you talk to that chick in Accounting? Would you start your own business? Would you sleep later? Would you wear a hat? I’ve been amazed at the things that people have told me they don’t do or wouldn’t do all out of the fear of it ‘looking stupid’. Really? It’s a little sad when you limit your life and your possibilities in that way; all reduced to how something will ‘look’.

A BA Degree In Fear.

When I was in college I was known for hanging out in the library. Before every graphic design project I would go and gather around 30 books. It was my ritual; my research…or at least I would tell myself that. Don’t get me wrong. I did and still do adore books, but I would spend over half my time ‘researching’. Then I would finally come up with my idea and then get started executing it with much hesitation. I never had enough time to finish my work so therefore many of my design projects sucked more than they should have. Looking back I realize I was scared. Scared my work wasn’t going to look as good as Ali’s, not be as well thought out as Maria’s, and my exacto knife skills wouldn’t match Isobel’s. I was pretty frozen and left undone by comparing myself to others and being afraid I wouldn’t match up.

I realize now how silly that all was. It is sad to think I wasted so much time being scared. It has definitely made me a little more of a risk-taker when it comes to trying new things with my artwork. I know it sounds dramatic but I’ve vowed to not allow my fear to stop me from creating or being creative. No matter how coocoolicious others believe me to be. Doesn’t matter. I’m being true to myself. That’s more important.

There are some pretty serious repercussions to allowing your fear to take control. Here are a few:

Five Consequences of Fear Ruling Your World.

1.  You Over-extend Yourself. Simply put, you don’t know how to say no. You are scared that others will believe you are mean, so you say yes…to everything. But does saying ‘yes’ to everything really make you nice or simply scared to say no? 
2. You Don’t Dream.  You are scared to dream for fear of what you consider ‘eventual’ disappointment. You have to dream. Hopes and dreams are what strengthen our spirits when it seems like the chips are down. They are our light at the end of the tunnel, the silver lining of that cloud, the sun that comes out tomorrow, the…well you get the picture.
3. People Don’t Know Who You Really Are. If you are afraid to share your feelings and thoughts concerned others with have a problem with them, how will others know how or what you really think about things? 
4. You Don’t Fall In Love. Don’t need to say much here do I? Love of anything or anyone leaves you vulnerable. Most of us don’t like to be left that wide open. But I know if I hadn’t fallen in love with art at such a young age I wouldn’t be the person I am today…and I definitely like me.
5. You Can’t Reach Your Full Potential. Fear leaves you in such a weakened state; it compromises your potential to succeed. Using up so much energy worrying about problems that don’t exist and cowering in corners leaves you pretty spent and a little too tired to follow through when it comes to getting things done. 

I’m not saying that you aren’t ever going to be scared. Of course you are. Fear is a natural reaction to challenges that we sometimes face. It is what you do in spite of your fear that can define you today, tomorrow, and for a lifetime.

Haters Gonna Hate...

Have you ever had a friend in your life that you loved spending time with and loved talking to, but alternately did not feel that you could truly trust? A ‘friend’ that you spend time with that, instead of making you feel great, your self-esteem takes a hit each minute you are in their presence?  A special artist colleague you share ideas with, who says they’ll never work and turns around and uses the same ideas they criticized? Sounds like you might have a frenemy.

How do you know when someone is a frenemy?

Frenemy, (spelled alternately frienemy) is defined as enemy pretending to be a friend or someone who really is a friend but is also a rival. The term is used to describe personal, geopolitical, and commercial relationships both among individuals and groups or institutions.

Personally, I don’t believe in the idea of frenemies. I believe that people are primarily encouraging or discouraging forces in one’s life; friend or enemy. It has become quite the trend to think of a friend or two in one’s entourage as a frenemy (just watch reruns of Gossip Girl or Work of Art: The Next Great Artist). Eventhough the phrase has been around for a while, it seems as if the idea of having a friend that doubles as an enemy really has taken off in the past few years and is even seen as acceptable. But truly it is difficult for a friend and enemy to exist in the same space. There are a few who do believe it is possible though.

Some might argue that having a friend who isn’t afraid to critique and criticize might make you a stronger person able to defend your ideas, but when that’s all your ‘friend’ does it knocks any relationship off balance and tips the scales more toward the negative.

Friendships already require lots of work. Why have friends that make you feel bad too?

It is true. To be a good friend is a job; usually one worth having. But when the negative and positive aspects to a friendship aren’t balanced you might feel that having certain folks as friends is more work than it is worth.

As an artist, surrounding yourself with those who will encourage and positively influence you is a must. It is even more important because the positive or negative feelings influence you and how you work. It is great to have someone in your life who challenges you to try new media, take an idea to another level, or open your own studio, but when the ‘challenges’ tip the scales more toward the negative then maybe a reassessment is in order:

Maybe you have to choose. I am not saying that you have to, but an article about the cause of frenemy type relationships I read recently points the finger at a lack of space between professional and personal lives. Maybe you have a friend that you share a studio with, live with, and hang out with. Maybe a little space and separation is in order. If you are living and working with someone, hang out with another group of friends when you leave the studio. Hanging out and working together? Perhaps change your living situation. The fact remains; changes might need to be made to salvage the work relationship or the friendship. Sometimes spending 30 hours a day together just doesn’t work.

Know the difference. Know the difference between someone that is purposely hurting you and someone who is simply a clueless bumbling idiot when it comes to their interactions with others. If your friend is of the bumbling idiot persuasion tell them how you feel. Hopefully that will nip things in the bud.

Understand what and who affects you and how. Went to dinner and a movie with Chip and now you feel like crap. Either you have food poisoning or Chip might be a little toxic. If conversation usually hovers around the energy vampire level (that is sucking all of the good energy and light out of a room) every time you are together then don’t ignore the obvious: Chip makes you feel a little queasy. Pay close attention to how you feel when in the company of others. Why spend time with people who make you feel not so great? Life is too short.

Accept challenges, not disrespect. If someone is challenging you do become a better artist and or person don’t confuse the fear of change with actual straight up ugly toxicity. When a person you hang out with is not respectful of you, and your ideas and feelings it is obvious, you will feel it.

Know when it is time to kick someone to the curb. I know it sounds harsh, but the simplified version of the story is: This person is negative. They make you feel bad. You need to leave them in the dust. The end. If you’ve already made attempts to express your feelings and work on a friendship and they’ve been ignored, you might have to move on. The end (again). Your call.

I'm Just the Messenger... 

Listen, I am not telling you to dump all of your friends. With every friendship there are ups and downs; nobody is perfect.

I am just saying be observant of how those you spend the most time with affect your being and your spirit. Keep those who encourage you, love you, help you to grow, support you, and help you to expand your horizons close by. You might notice a difference in the way you feel and the artwork you produce.

Giving Thanks For What You CAN Do.

I would be a better artist if I was more like {fill in the blank}. 

We all experience it.

Every now and then we all have that..not so artistic feeling. You are having a bad day. You begin to focus on your weaknesses and the things you aren't so good at executing. The ball keeps rolling, you start looking at all of the things you think you do wrong and BOOM! You are depressed. The next thing you know, you are eating a whole pint of ice cream and now you are eyeballing that bag of chips...  Well stop it! Right this minute!

As an artist I've said many things to myself too. Honestly, mostly positive and encouraging things, but every now and then a not-so-great thought slips through and my artistic self-esteem drops. Not so different from what we do to ourselves as everyday human beings, except as artists, how we treat ourselves on a daily basis affects our product; what and how we produce. The insults we most often hurl at ourselves is comparing our talents/life/productivity/perceived level of success to someone else's. Though everyone has their bad days and this is a natural thing that we do, it is counterproductive. Sitting around crying in your beer (or latte or tea) about what someone else can do and you can't doesn't change things. 

So what CAN you do if you are feeling particularly low and need to pick yourself up a little? Say thank you, that's what.

Psst...I've got a secret...

A year ago this week I read the book "The Magic" by Rhonda Byrne. The same chick that wrote "The Secret". A couple of things about the book struck me right away. First, the title. I love anything to do with magic and mysticism. To my dismay (and delight) I found that there was no fairy dust or warlocks. Second thing that got me is the concept: if you say thank you and show gratitude for what you already have, it opens the door for more opportunities to come your way. Pretty amazing. Just say thank you. My personal theory is that if you are so busy saying thank you (which is positive) you don't have time to complain (which is negative). The other stuff that Ms. Byrne mentions is a bonus for me. Saying thank you simply stops the negative thoughts from coupling and having 'negative thought babies'.

"Now what do you say....?" 

How many times as a toddler or teenager (or adult)  have you been prompted by that phrase? "Now say 'thank you'. "  Now it is your turn to prompt yourself. When you are busy saying 'thank you' for what you can do, you spend less time whining about what you can't do. Therefore more positive energy doing something positive. 

So I ask you, what do you say when you have one of those days where you feel like you can't do anything right? Give thanks for the things you can do right and work towards improvement in other areas. Check out the ideas I have for ways to say 'thank you' for your talents.

Five Ways to Show Gratitude for Your Gifts:

1. Share Them. Volunteer with an organization that allows you share your artistic talents. A Boys and Girls Club, after school program, or non.profit organization might be just the perfect fit. Why not teach a class or donate a piece of art to an auction.
2.  Make a list of at least 10 of your artistic skills and why you are grateful for each one. When you make this list I guarantee you will be surprised at all you can do. You might even find that your list is longer than 10 skills.
3. Make a list of 5 things you've had the opportunity to do or experience because of your talents. What are some things that you would've never experienced if you weren't an artist? Maybe it was a trip or meeting a great friend.
4. Look at 3 of your best pieces. Find something uniquely wonderful about each one and write it down. There is something in each of those pieces that only you are able to execute with a certain flair.
5.  Think on 2 aspects of another artists career that you admire most now think about how you are on your way to making comparable achievements. For example: "James Dowerson has exhibited in 17 galleries this year. I have exhibited in 3 shows this year." This exercise isn't really to compare yourself to another artist but to show you that, in the words of one of my favorite inspirational speakers Wayne Dyer, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." When you give weight to your accomplishments and acknowledge them it makes a difference and validates your efforts. It acknowledges that you are trying, and that is what is important.

Write all that you've discovered you are thankful for down on a piece of paper. Carry it with you and pull it out when you are feeling a little less than accomplished. It will be a reminder of how awesome you are. 

The Artistic Perils of Constant Agreement

Please like me. 

In the world as it exists at this moment, there a millions of us that determine our self-worth by how many 'likes' our last post received, how many 'friends' or 'followers' we have or how many people click 'favorite' for something we've done or said. Honestly, who doesn't want to have the warm glow of a spotlight shined on them from time to time? This should be o.k. , shouldn't it? 

The sad reality is that we love those that are saying what we want (or think we want) to hear and completely cut out of our lives those that push us to think a little more about what we believe. In the end, not only do we miss out on the much needed pro/con balance that we all should have to make well-informed decisions, but we also miss out on the mental and emotional exercise of thinking progressively.

But what about when we as artists allow what has become our need to be liked to temper the work we do as well as our personal opinions and preferences when it comes to addressing certain subject matter? A little disagreement and discourse are what make the world go round, right? Of course, not to the point that it becomes destructive (Also known as filibustering. But that is, ahem...a whole other topic entirely.), but there is nothing wrong with disagreement. The world of art is built on the act of disagreeing.

A World Built on Disagreements.

Have I totally lost you?

Well, just think about it. I am going to scare myself now by actually remembering things that I learned in school: If you've taken any 20th century art classes, do you remember the day that your professor talked about the Impressionists? What about Pointillism? These artists had a decidedly different way of looking at the world that most traditional artists and art aficionado didn't agree with in their time. Most people thought they were crazy (well in the case of Van Gogh he was a smidgen kooky, but I digress...) What about Dada? People really thought those artists had lost it because they'd wandered so far from the path of the traditional. Of course now we all have the benefit of 20/20 vision. We can at least respect their way of looking at the world and the act of art-making if not their genius. More than likely, if these artists had been on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter their artistic self-esteem would have been in the toilet. No pins. No likes. And definitely no followers. What would we have missed out on if these artists hadn't had the courage to stand by their decision to disagree? You got it. Probably no Impressionists. Then what would we have put up on our dorm room walls in college if not cheap poster reproductions of "The Scream" and "Water Lilies"?

It's Our Responsibility. 

It is one of the many responsibilities of artists to disagree. We have the opportunity to be reporters, truth tellers, messengers, therapists and psychologists. We see the world differently. It is meant for us to help others see things differently as well.  And a lot of the time people aren't going to be so happy with what we tell them. When we choose to RESPECTFULLY disagree, we expand someone's world a little by (hopefully) prompting and exchange of ideas. Because I truly hope that someone would ask me why I think the way that I do instead of stomping off in anger. That way we can chat. I can learn something and they can learn something.

Next time... 

So next time you click the 'like', 'favorite', 'pin', 'follow', 'friend' or whatever the button may be, think a little more about why you do it. Why not go ahead and click favorably even when we don't agree but appreciate and respect when someone has challenged us intellectually and made us think. Thinking is good.