The title is intriguing, is it not? If I were to send you an email suggesting you attend a 'Pro-Choice' Meeting what would your reaction be? What about to those of you that are 'Pro-Life'...
how would you take to me sending you an email, or calling you up and
asking you that? Well, to be honest I would not do that, I do not use
my friends/contacts as a way to try and increase the support for causes
that I believe in, however, I did receive such an email from someone
that has me on their contact list.
This
email did bother me, why would someone go around pushing their beliefs
on others? First off, the sender of the email has no idea on my view
of abortion - so it was very brazen of them to assume that I'd be
interested in their meeting and even hold the same view when in reality
79% of Canadians are in favor of pro-choice (being
in favor of choice and education on the matter of abortion, and in the
end the matter is between the woman and her doctor as it is her health
[physical and mental] that is at stake by following through with any
pregnancy).
While we're on the topic of brazen emails - what about those that
some send out asking for support for a particular pollitical party?
What about those preaching religion? I do not preach my views by email
and I don't accept others -- anymore. I have silently deleted emails
that I found offensive in the past, but, I think that is no more. If
people send me preachy emails I will respond, polite and
non-confrontational.
For the record... my response to the recent email that started this post was simply (and politely):
"No thank you *Name of sender* - but if you are ever interested in going to a Pro-Choice meeting, I'd gladly accompany you."
Links of interest:
- Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
- Medical Students for Choice
- the Pro Choice Action Network
- The Feminist Institute for Studies on Law and Society - Reproductive Rights (there is numerous links from this particular page to other relevant sites)
- the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health
- National Abortion Federation
Rawr. I had (past tense) a friend who would send me preachy emails just to upset me. She knew my beliefs rested elsewhere and thought it was "cute" and "funny" to send me stuff like that. It ended out friendship.
What happened to respect and common decency? Why is it people feel that they can get away with things online that they would NEVER dare face to face? It baffles me.
For the record, tho... I'd go to a pro choice or a pro life meeting with ya, just for the pleasure of your company. So there. :)
Posted by: Liberty | 05/05/2006 at 20:05
:) well, that 'for the record' comment sounds just lovely. I don't know why people feel they can say things in email they'd not say to your face. Guess they don't have to see or directly hear your response... so they have a barrier that shields them from the full impact of what they are saying.
Posted by: Desiree | 05/05/2006 at 20:46
Yeah, I hear yeah Des.
I had to cut off a bunch of 'online' friends that liked to preach.. which didn't bother ME very much however, a few of my 'real' friends felt very uncomfortable with the whole business and were not coming to my blog because of it. I am now very careful about who I consider a friend online.
Posted by: Lena | 06/05/2006 at 11:54