More than four years ago, my son Mark observed in a comment to a blog that “recreational outrage is America’s most popular indoor sport.” Last month, in writing about out-of-control parents at youth sports, Jason Gay also used the term “recreational outrage.”
Naturally, the participation trophy debate isn’t about the children, or even sports. It is yet another pastime for the recreationally outraged, a howl to make an easy score in the culture wars, earning back slaps from followers who think the planet is going to hell, thanks in part to socialist 7-year-old soccer programs. – Jason Gay, Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2023
It seems that no matter how innocent a post on social media starts, it can always degenerate into outrage. For example, last week, NextDoor, the neighborhood website, invited us to post a picture for the #LoveYourNeighborhoodContest. Since one of the categories was #NeighborhoodCreatures, I posted this picture of our late dog Babo encountering a deer on a morning walk:
The picture was an instantaneous hit garnering over 300 “likes” in two days. “Love this!” “That is so adorable!” “This is awesome!” “Yours is a photo I saved.” I wondered how long before someone would make a snarky comment about what a dangerous situation this was, and I wasn’t disappointed: “Not a wise decision to let that happen. Babo could be seriously injured. You got lucky he wasn’t. I don’t understand people.”
The same person deduced that someone who really liked the picture “must not be from Colorado.” Then someone piled on her: What’s wrong with you? At least some people can look at a pic and enjoy it. Do you think only people from Colorado know about wildlife? Get over yourself.”
I attempted to be a peacemaker:
Folks, can we declare a truce? It’s a cute picture of an inadvertent encounter between a small dog and a large deer. In this case, each found the other curious. As they say, “No animals were harmed in the making of this picture.” Some folks want us to understand that this is a potentially dangerous situation. I don’t think any of us needs to be in attack mode.
Sadly, the bickering continued.
I hope we as believers can avoid outrage. Breakpoint’s March 28 article on colleges closing contained this insightful paragraph:
Like with any crisis, the situation in higher education also presents opportunities. One of our mottos at the Colson Center is that “outrage is not a strategy,” and that’s just as true here as it is elsewhere. Our calling by God is not to sit back and be angry but to bring His kingdom into this world. A crisis can also be an opportunity.
Outrage is not a strategy, even if it’s an issue more important than the safety of a small dog.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5.9, 13 – 16, ESV)