I’ve been reading SooToday.com, and posting in the forums, almost since the site came online. I like that the news is more immediate than that offered by traditional print media, or even television.

I also have enjoyed participating in the discussion forums – usually. We all have seen that the discussions can get a bit, uh… heated, at times. But more often than not there are good, thorough discussions of topical events and community happenings.

I have also, as my regular readers will know, been writing this column for just over two years – plus a few “guest columns” that I wrote for Pete Vere prior to being given my own forum.

The discussion forums have been very informative. In reading the various editorials, and especially the comments posted, one can learn a lot, not just about current affairs, politics, and community happenings, but about life in general.

I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned.

I’ve learned that… if I disagree with someone, I can insult them or call them names, and that means I win the argument!

I’ve learned that… if I don’t have all the facts, I can give my opinion, and people should just believe me!

I’ve learned that… if people don’t believe me, I can insult them or call them names, and that means I am right!

I’ve learned that… I can insult an individual, a group of people, or an entire culture, but as long as I say “I was only joking” then I don’t have to accept responsibility for my remarks.

I’ve learned that… if I don’t like someone’s stand on an issue, I can poke fun of their name or their appearance, and that proves that mine is the superior position.

I’ve learned that… teachers are scum-sucking pigs who are grossly over-paid, put out little or no effort in attempting to teach our children, and get far too much time off.

I’ve learned that… the NDP tell nothing but lies, take credit for the initiatives of the other parties, and are not to be trusted.

I’ve learned that… the Liberals tell nothing but lies, take credit for the initiatives of the other parties, and are not to be trusted.

I’ve learned that… the Conservatives tell nothing but lies, take credit for the initiatives of the other parties, and are not to be trusted.

I’ve learned that… politicians are not to be trusted.

I’ve learned that… there’s no good reason for the government to collect taxes, especially when they run up such a huge deficit.

I’ve learned that… there’s no reason for the government to run up such a huge deficit, especially considering how much they collect in taxes.

I’ve learned that… the government should be providing us with more services, not cutting back on those we already have, and they shouldn’t be raising our taxes to pay for those services.

I’ve learned that… we should do more for ourselves and rely less on the government.

I’ve learned that… when people offer the answer to a question that has been posted, or respond to someone’s comment, it is because they think of themselves as some sort of “know-it-all.”

I’ve learned that… when people offer facts, either in support of someone’s comments or to refute someone else’s, it is because they think they are better than the rest of us.

I’ve learned that… just because someone has gone to college or university they think they are better than everyone else.

I’ve learned that… just because someone has worked for a living their whole lives and have “life experience” they think they are better than everyone else.

I’ve learned that… issues are either black or white, that there are no “shades of grey,” and no room for interpretation.

I’ve learned that… to acknowledge that an opposing view has merits is to be labelled a “fence-sitter.”

I’ve learned that… to suggest that there may be more than one side to an issue is to be labelled a “waffler.”

It’s amazing what you can learn here, isn’t it?

In all seriousness, I’ve learned the true meaning of the expression “take that with a grain of salt.”

The idea behind that phrase is that food is more palatable, and easier to swallow, when it is taken with a grain of salt. As a metaphor, its application is that unkind or harsh comments can be made more palatable, and easier to take, if one considers those remarks with some skepticism.

In other words, don’t take such comments to heart, they are just someone’s opinion and may not be factual.

What I’ve learned, over my nearly fifty years, and from reading this site and others, is this:

There is no black-and-white; everything issue consists of shades of grey.

We all have our own opinions, and we are entitled to them.

When we state what we believe to be facts, we must be ready to accept that we may be wrong, especially when presented with evidence that refutes our facts. And that’s okay.

It’s okay to be wrong, and one should be willing to admit when they are. Likewise, one should be willing to admit they have made a mistake; everyone does, no one is perfect.

We should always try to remember the Golden Rule: Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You. In other words, treat people the way you want them to treat you.

Always be willing to apologize. Quite often it feels better to say "I'm sorry," than it does "I'm right."

We’re all different. We have different opinions, and view issues differently.

And that’s okay.

I wouldn’t want to live in a world where we were all alike.

I believe we should celebrate our differences, not use them as ammunition to prove that we are better than someone else.

There’s an old saying that I believe should be a motto for our lives:

Blowing out someone else’s candle will not make yours shine any brighter.

I believe we ought to treat each other with respect, the respect that we want others to show us.

But… that’s just my opinion.