I just read on-line that Perez Hilton said he will continue to say things upsetting to gay and straight people alike. This guy needs a time out!
For those of you who don't know Perez Hilton has a celebrity gossip website. He got into an altercation with Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.a.m this weekend. I have not watched the videos that are circulating about the altercation...I don't care who did what.
What I care about is that Perez said he will continue to say upsetting things....like maybe the gay slur he used that night. He said of that night ...he tried to think of the most hurtful thing to say...and he said it.
That's where the time out comes in. A time out is an opportunity to stop, catch your breath and think about what you did.
Here are my tips for Perez after being in the field of personal safety for many years...
1. Saying upsetting things to people for the sheer thought of hurting them may get you hurt.
2. Telling people ahead of time that you are going to do it...well it makes you seem like you can't use logic to make your points and that you'll be taking the easy way out from the get go. It doesn't take imagination to utter a slur...it takes a lot of imagination to frame your criticism of someone's behavior or performance using other types of words.
3. When you make part of your living criticizing or making fun of folks...drawing things on their pictures that they may feel are offensive..don't think they are going to be your friend. If you are going to be where they are...take some very big security people with you. That is being safety smart. And if you are going where people may be drinking...take even more big security folks..or better yet stay home.
We are all responsible for our own actions. For what we do and for what we say. Things can get out of hand very quickly...that's why I use to teach kids there is honor in walking away from a fight. Maybe something Perez could think about during his timeout.
Comments