Communication skills for the crazy

Christian Brochure: “Being Gay Is Bad, Like Overeating”

by Bill Brenner October 16, 2012 Communication Skills

Some days it’s not easy being a Christian soldier. When my comrades talk in a way that makes sense, it’s all well and good. But when they say stupid things, such as being gay is bad — like bullying and overeating — my faith is tested. Mood music: [spotify:track:55jSlIKD8CoP3uTIXlJdGa] Fortunately for me, I learned a long time ago not to base my faith on the social politics of mere mortals, including those with leadership positions…  [Read More]

I Accept God’s Plan, But I Don’t Have to Like It

by Bill Brenner October 15, 2012 Communication Skills

I’ve spent my life accepting God’s plan. Whenever I think of the deaths of my brother and best friend, I chalk it up to God’s plan. Surely, I tell myself, their deaths were part of some greater good mere mortals could never understand. Accept it, yeah. But I’ve never liked losing those two. There’s a lot in life that may be part of God’s plan. I truly believe that I have to accept it and…  [Read More]

Was She Bullied, or Did the Truth Cut Too Deep?

by Bill Brenner October 4, 2012 Communication Skills

A good friend disliked yesterday’s post, “The Fat Lady Sang, And It Was Beautiful.” His main criticism was that I centered it on my own weight battles, which I traced back to Crohn’s Disease, Prednisone and addiction. Mood music: [spotify:track:1DH4YwHHGBkWO8dX3JISjl] Livingston, a morning anchor at WKBT in La Crosse, Wisconsin, went on air after getting an email that read in part: Surely you don’t consider yourself a suitable example for this community’s young people, girls in…  [Read More]

The Fat Lady Sang, and It Was Beautiful

by Bill Brenner October 3, 2012 Communication Skills

I just read about some asshole who told an overweight news anchor that she’s a bad role model for children. As someone who has had a lifelong struggle with weight, this hits me like a punch to the gut. Mood music: [spotify:track:66s9KuIsH7xoJDQerDhX69] Jennifer Livingston, a morning anchor at WKBT in La Crosse, Wisconsin, went on air after getting an email that read in part: “Surely you don’t consider yourself a suitable example for this community’s young people,…  [Read More]

You Don’t Need Rage to Be a Badass

by Bill Brenner October 2, 2012 Communication Skills

When I was in my teens and early 20s, I let my rage flow freely in public. I’d drop f-bombs, flip people off and deliberately cut people off in traffic. That I couldn’t control myself was only part of it. In my young and stupid mind, I thought these attributes made me cool. Mood music: [spotify:track:3xMZrNrfyKUUqQVtoR13ml] Funny thing about having a chip on your shoulder: It obstructs the flow of sanity and common sense to…  [Read More]

Lessons From Facebook Unfriend Finder

by Bill Brenner July 17, 2012 Communication Skills

I recently re-activated the Facebook Unfriend Finder that I wrote about last winter, after discovering my wife was using a similar plug-in. Given my past paranoia over why certain people unfriended me, she thought it was a bad idea for me to use it. But I figured if she could use it, so could I. A few weeks in, here’s what I’ve learned. When your friend count goes down, it’s usually not because you offended…  [Read More]

Five Steps for a Less-Irritating Facebook Presence

by Bill Brenner June 28, 2012 Communication Skills

Editor’s note: This is a sequel to yesterday’s post, “Stupid Things People Say on Facebook.” In this installment, Bill outlines the steps he takes to be less of a jerk on Facebook. He admits he’s not perfect, especially when it comes to the fifth example. Mood music: [spotify:track:2eGGIxRfU8udVR0kX6Z2fq] My personal rules for using Facebook: No bitching. If I’m having a bad day, I don’t complain about it in my status updates. Since I hate it…  [Read More]

Stupid Things People Say on Facebook

by Bill Brenner June 27, 2012 Communication Skills

On Facebook, I try to conduct myself just as I would in any other social situation. People who go on there to whine and throw around vitriol disgust me, and I confess to a sick enjoyment of sites that make fun of those posts. We Know What You’re Doing is a new site that documents how stupid people people can be on Facebook. Mood music: [spotify:track:6GulNC8embtfc0T8EyC7GB] I often fall victim to the Facebook Unfriend Syndrome: that…  [Read More]

Death Etiquette: Pay Your Respects, Even If They Hate You

by Bill Brenner June 16, 2012 Grief management

Someone I know just learned that her ex’s maternal grandfather died. Though this man was like a grandfather to her, she’s getting pressure to stay away from the wake and funeral because her ex-mother-in-law doesn’t want her around. Some of you might say she should stay away, that her ex-mother-in-law’s wishes should come before other considerations. After all, it’s her father who died, and she needs all the comforting loved ones could give her. She…  [Read More]

Hit Me Again, I Can Take It

by Bill Brenner June 6, 2012 Adventures in writing

Despite the sometimes divisive topics I write about daily, most of the comments people leave under my posts are positive. But don’t you worry — I take my share of  barbed rebukes as well. Since it can be terribly difficult for some to take criticism, I thought I should share what I’ve learned. Mood music: [spotify:track:2ZIyAatdOPqpQNsjVNAAoj] To show I’m an equal opportunity kinda guy, let me start by sharing the not-so-nice reactions readers have had…  [Read More]

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