Accountability, Actions, Consequences…
Posted in Words on Aug 27th, 2008
this post was inspired by mi good friend, thirtydaes
wikipedia defines accountability as ” ‘A is accountable to B when A is obliged to inform B about A’s (past or future) actions and decisions, to justify them, and to suffer punishment in the case of eventual misconduct’ [1].”
do you remember when the 8 teens beat up the cheerleader, and filmed it for youtube? the public saw an innocent teen beat up strictly for the world to enjoi on video. yet, when i first saw the story on the news, they mentioned that this “innocent” teen previously talked a bunch of shit about the girls on myspace prior to the beatings! of course, you dont hear about that minor detail because everyone has such sympathy for the victim. now, understand this before i continue: i DO NOT condone what the teens did to this poor girl. they did NOT have to beat her like that! with that said…lets get into this.
people seem to think that just because they are capable of posting a blog, comment, a tweet or such on the internet, that real life ceases to exists. they get comfy with the notion that its another world that has little to no attachment to reality! so in the case of the cheerleader - if, in fact, she WAS talking shit about these girls - did she not even stop to imagine the consequences before hitting the ’submit’ button? chances are, she did not, and let her mouth (fingers) write a check that overdrew her asses account. plain and simple, she got her mother fuckin ass whooped.
let mi say something that may shock you: THIS IS REAL LIFE! when you build up enough balls to say shit about someone, you had best be prepared for said someone to step to you about it. be it on a forum, radio show, interview, or even typical conversation. we seem to have let hip hop fool us all into thinking we are all “tough guys/gals” when most of the time, this is NOT the case. why are so many people so damn tough behind a firewall or microphone, and when confronted, turn into backpedaling pussies???
yet, even pussies will become the ultimate gangstas when backed into a corner, and anyone within a miles radius will feel the wrath. need we forget about the Columbine shooting? kids pushed too far by people with no grasp of everyday consequences. i can mildly relate to that miself, as i was a victim of bullying and reacted violently. the funny part was the fact that everywhere i went after that, mi peers were respecting mi more because i refused to take that shit.
but, i digress, sorry…
the point of this post is Accountability, right? Lil Kim was held accountable for sleeping with BIG while still seeing Faith Evans, rapper Saigon was held accountable for talking shit about Mobb Deep, Don Imus was held accountable for the “nappy eaded hoes”, Eazy-E for his unsafe sex practices. even 50 cent was held accountable for the nigguhs he pissed off (and he took 9 bullets for it).
sometimes, it is our own family (or extended family) that gas us into thinking that we are superior or untouchable. ive seen youngsters brought up in good households, go to college, fuck it all up, getting exposed to local ruffians, start doing heavy drugs, and begin to think that they are invincible! they lose sight of people that will confront you simply because of the company you keep (even i was beat-down by an asian gang in high school, because of what mi homies did to their homies - and i was lucky. the asian gangs around norcal are known for kicking in doors). YOU may be innocent of what your friends do, but the person on the other end of the 9mm doesnt give a fuck of what YOU did or didnt do! trust that. ive had good friends die tragically because of their associations. it sucks, and its not a good thing, but it IS real life.
i have had to edit posts here on mi blog because of personal references, and certain people mentioned. i try to not let mi hands type before mi brain has had a chance to process the consequences. SOMEONE is going to hold mi accountable for the things i say and do….and they have every right to do so. i can tell you this; i am prepared for anything that may come. so i want ALL of you to read this and other blogs that deal with responsibility, actions, and accountability. remember that every action has a reaction - be it positive or negative. thus, every action has a consequence.
“What goes up must come down
Spinnin’ wheel got to go ’round” - Blood, Sweat and Tears
I LOVE THIS POST TOFU!!
I honestly think that the beginning of this blog should be a disclaimer for any and all social networking site in which “shit talking” can and WILL take place.
You spoke the truth and for some it will hurt… for others… they will raise a hand in total agreement. I on the other hand.. have some doors to kick in. hahaha JOKES. I sneak in through the window.
Aquamarie’s last blog post..Misteeza Fried Rice.
Awesome post, Tofu! Really. That kind of reminds me of something I say fairly often and try my best to live up to, which is: Who I am online (be it Twitter, blogs, forums, IM, etc) is who I am in real life, too. I don’t try to put on a front or pretend I’m something other than what I am, because I don’t really see the point.
Why not? Well, if ever meet people in real life that I’ve dealt with online, and I’m not the same person then as I am when I talk online, they’re obviously going to know and either get outright pissed, or at the very least wonder what the hell is up with me.
Very, very good post!
Pete (prp2)’s last blog post..Some Changes Are Afoot
thank you very much. truth hurts, but truth is everywhere. i was just stating the obvious. imma be 1st thru the door after u kick it in! hehehe!
As always… I LoVe this post! Just as my counterpart Aquamarie stated, I raise my hand in TOTAL agreement and am ready to serve VAGINA PUNCHES as soon as the door’s kicked in, I don’t fit through the window, lol!
But in all seriousness, too often people aren’t held accountable for their actions and then folks seem to not know how to act when they are faced with severe consequences. It’s like a child that throws temper tantrums all the time and gets away with it. One day that child is gonna be faced with a fed up parent, another impatient adult or even a peer that refuses to tolerate the funky attitude and someone is gonna end up going upside that child’s head, and for good reason.
I myself have been on both sides of the accountability wall. As an adult I have to accept the consequences for my actions as I will, and do, hold others accountable for theirs!
Much love… Desiree
fam this is great. very insightful and honest, but then again, i expect no less from you…
accountability is easily overlooked or undervalued. in truth, we are all held accountable for our actions no matter what. i think that’s why my blog tagline is “let’s be honest about this.” it’s easy to pose in front of a virtual audience because it’s perceived that there is no accountability there.
nothing can be further from the truth. your words: comments, posts, mutterings, etc., are preserved in cyberspace for all eternity. it’s best to keep them soft and sweet because you never know when you may have to eat them. i try to steer clear of internet beef by respecting everyone’s right to express themselves. if they’re making a fool of themselves, sooner or later someone will hold them accountable for it anyway.
thanks for the pingback, and as always, much love and respect.
More people NEED to understand this. Who you are online needs to be backed up by who you are offline.
Real life is what is important and if you are an ass in real life, you will have it handed to you on a platter.
but first and foremost, tof? you are the shit man, I am in awe of the way you bring it so real and damn the bullshit, it is what it is, MAN!
much love
Wow! Great post! The web is full of fakesters and posers of all kinds. The sad thing is that they don’t have a life full enough to make them feel good about themselves, so they take on the web and those they interact with there thinking its all good and NEVER think that shit will catch up with them. Sorry you had to deal with those types You just hope that when you connect with folks, that you’re getting the real thing. It shouldn’t have to be this hard. It doesn’t pay to fake your way through because “… it all comes out in the wash, in time.”, right?
D Rox’s last blog post..Not quite there yet…
You know you are the best thing since sliced bread and what you just said is the TRUTH!!!! I have always been taught not to say things unless you are able to back it up….Thanks for the post it was AWESOME!!!!!
Oh snap! Haa I would be like point them out but nahhhh I’ll fall back on the drama starting
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I agree with what you’re saying completely! There are so many haters online yet if the time came to meet up in person they’ll completely back down. ugh!!
why even have drama online and be fake? its insane.
Great post AS ALWAYS <33
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I wholey agree with this blog, and as a parent I always look for other teaching moments and words of wisdom to show my son who is 17, they not only need to hear these things from their parents but also from others so they dont think mom is blowing smoke up thier butt….thanks for the great teaching moment hun…he read it and agreeded as well.
Tofu! That was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Too many people especially young people think its ok to front and act completely different than they are in real life without understanding that what’s done online is still real life. And the ones who front are usually the ones without a real life. If you can’t say it to someone’s face don’t even bother saying it online…
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