Noticing Newbies
This week: T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak Edited by: Tornado Dodger More Newsletters By This Editor
1. About this Newsletter 2. A Word from our Sponsor 3. Letter from the Editor 4. Editor's Picks 5. A Word from Writing.Com 6. Ask & Answer 7. Removal instructions
The Noticing Newbies Newsletter's goal is to make the newer members feel welcome and encourage them with useful information and/or links to make navigating Writing.com easier. Writing.com members of all ages and even veteran members can find useful information here. If you have specific questions, try visiting "Writing.Com 101" and/or "Noticing Newbies" .
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ASIN: B07NPKP5BF |
Product Type: Toys & Games
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[T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak]
The older I get, the more I see unkind words as what they truly are - verbal weapons. While you're spending time online in our wonderful community as well as in-person throughout life, please consider what you say and the outcome it can have on people you encounter. You likely have no idea what their lives consist of or the challenges they face. We all know many adults experience a lot of stress in their lives but did you realize teenagers today face an alarming amount of pressure and responsibility? They need a place where they belong and feel accepted for who they are. Hopefully they can find that here. Knowing that almost 80 percent of all high school students have encountered bullying in some fashion online is appalling to me. Research has linked verbal attacks and bullying to stress and depression. Showing friendly compassion can go a long way toward changing their day and possibly even their life.
350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. (World Health Organization)
Between 20% and 50% of children and teens struggling with depression have a family history of this struggle and the offspring of depressed parents are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression. (U.S. Surgeon General's Survey)
Anytime you're dealing with a large group of people, you're bound to find those that disagree with you. You may even find those that speak rudely or act insensitively when you express your ideas. I hope you don't encounter that behavior here, but if you do, please take a moment to think before you respond. If the other individual crosses the line, please bring it a staff member's attention immediately through the links I've provided below. Before you respond to any statement that may offend you, take a moment to consider that your words not only have meaning, they can have a long-term damaging effect on the person you're speaking to. As an adult, we can set a good example for any child by speaking kindly to and about others, and not resorting to rudeness in response to others. A good model to remember is to "THINK" about what you're going to say.
T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak
... is it True?
... is it Helpful?
... is it Inspiring?
... is it Necessary?
... is it Kind?
If you've attempted to resolve any differences and someone insists on continuing to treat you negatively, you have every right to " Submit a Complaint" . Before placing a complaint, make sure what you're experiencing is just a reaction to negative feedback. It can be beneficial to read " How To Deal With Negative Comments" before placing a complaint to ensure your response is valid. It should also be noted that you can block a member from interacting with you and reviewing/seeing your items by clicking your account information, choosing the "Options" tab and scrolling down to "Block a Member". From this area, you can also choose to ignore a member so you don't see their posts or items while you're interacting on the site.
For more facts and information about bullying, visit BullyFree.com
Write and Review on! ~ Brooke
"Wonder is essentially ... a wonder. It's well-written, engaging, and so much fun to read that the pages almost turn themselves. More than that, Wonder touches the heart in the most life-affirming, unexpected ways, delivering in August Pullman a character whom readers will remember forever. Do yourself a favor and read this book - your life will be better for it." - Nicholas Sparks, #1 New York Times bestselling author
ASIN: 0375869026 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 10.29
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[Related Links]
This month's links are to a handful of groups that spread smiles around our community.
"The WDC Angel Army" [ASR] by iKïyå§ama
"Invalid Item" [] by A Guest Visitor
"SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP" [E] by Simply Positive
"♥♥Bear Hugs♥♥" [E] by ~WhoMe???~
"RAOK Upgrade Brigade Group" [E] by Writing.Com Support
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Highlighted Newbies:
I'm featuring work from authors showing in Emotional, Biographical and Personal genres. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Excerpt:
I realized something was wrong in middle school.
The first time I heard it was in math class. I heard it from the back of the classroom, when Ms. Belarus asked me to solve for pi for the problem on the blackboard.
I stood there in my school uniform, staring at the board in defeat as my fellow classmates watched intently. My pleated skirt was too short on me after I grew about 3 inches over the summer, the dust coming off the chalk was irritating my eyes, and my miserable little body was shivering from the open window next to me. I remember thinking that I hoped some god watching over me could make the fire bell ring before I could finish. Just a quick one, 3 minutes was all I needed. Then Ms. Belarus would forget about me being up to the board and no one would know that the only thing I knew about pi was that it tasted good with pumpkin inside of it.
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Excerpt:
Do you know the sound of a gunshot?
I have heard them in the movies...
Down the street maybe - I'm not sure.
Perhaps it was a backfire.
Do you know the pain of a gunshot?
I've seen it on TV...
Slow motion bodies riddled with bullets
It seems made for the big screen.
~ ~
Excerpt:
Life's tough, and I wished that someone had left little post-it notes all over the place. And, when I read them it showed words of encouragement. Life for me was really tough, because I was lost on my way. I had no idea who I was, and I drown myself with the wrong people. Middle school was hell for me, and I went-maybe-a fourth of the time. If I could erase a single year of my life, my 8th grade year would be the one I'd erase.
~ ~
Excerpt:
Having a disability
Doesn't mean
I'm any different
From you- I'm just me.
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Excerpt:
There was a time, not two years ago, when I could hardly go a night without the memories keeping me from sleep. I was suffering what was termed post-traumatic-stress and had difficulty engaging in interactions with others without feeling unwarranted panic. I was prone to fits of tears, long moments of reflective quiet, and uncharacteristic outbursts. My mind was plagued by the pains of emotional recovery from, what had been for me, an excruciating ordeal.
~ ~
Excerpt:
There is a limit to how much stress one person can take, how much pressure until breaking point is reached. I have hidden this secret away for far too long, now it's time to share it.
Have you ever had to keep a secret so big that it changes your life forever? So serious that you feel you can't tell a single soul? Well for the last 15 years I've kept a secret that has slowly torn me apart, and now once and for all, I am going to share my everlasting secret.
~ ~
Excerpt:
Waiting
Wishing
Impatient moments
Crawl by
Wishing
Waiting
~ ~
Excerpt:
I am stronger than I thought but fearful of that strength.
I wonder why people are so cruel to each other.
I hear their mocking voices circling my every step.
I see my world with a distorted perception.
I want to embrace my strength.
I am stronger than I thought but fearful of that strength.
~ ~
Excerpt:
Are you alone here too?
Why am I alone, you ask?
Well, I'm not really alone. I know people here.
People know my name but not much more.
What about the people I came with?
They're around here somewhere.
They left me when we walked in the door.
Yes, I guess that they're my friends
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Excerpt:
I was called an old fart today.
They say the truth hurts. I could have stomached it and maybe tried to do something about it, except that the young man addressing me didn't have a whole lot holding up his pants, which meant his boxers were showing four inches above the waistband. I saw that his pals dressed similarly, so one has to assume that this is a fashion. I wasn't fazed by the pin through his eyebrow, having been in Africa on many occasions, where that same pin, somewhat larger, might ordinarily have been a sign of courage.
~ ~
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter! https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
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Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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I received some wonderful feedback to my last newsletter [#5293] "Statistics - Tools at your fingertips" and I'm proud to share it with you.
From JACE
Even better than your last NL, which I quite enjoyed. You did a wonderful job breaking down the whys and wherefores of an Upgraded membership, as well as that topic so near and dear to me ... Stats.
Thank you my friend. I appreciate your thoughts.
From Jeff
Thank you for the very informative NL. The StoryMaster has so many amazing features for this website, it's like a Russian nesting doll... just when you think you've figured it all out, there's another small aspect of it just waiting to be uncovered.
I couldn't agree more. Write on!
From BIG BAD WOLF is Howling with item: "The Vampiress and the Boy"
Always have fun with contests- even when you don't win the prize.
That's a great attitude.
From Ajay with item: "Invalid Item"
Geography is said to be one of the eyes of history,the other being Chronology.Without some knowledge of geography,the history of any country can not be understood.The movement of people through different regions of a country leads to the exchange of culture and development of trade.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
From J. M. Kraynak 10th Year at WDC with item: "Invalid Item"
Hello, I'm submitting this recently formed group for consideration into Noticing Newbies newsletter. I understand that a lot of WDC's newest members are struggling to have some of their novels and chapters reviewed due to their length, and they are unable to join one of the many excellent workshops because they have less than 6 months membership. This group is for those aspiring authors.
Looks like a great group you have there. Thanks for sharing it with us.
From Joto-Kai
Grr. If I let myself care, I'd get mighty piqued about statistics. Out of four hundred fifty odd viewers, not ten with valid demographics. Do I have valid demographics? It just makes me shake my head. What are you going to do?
Normally people fill out their personal information when they create their membership, which gives them valid demographics. But you can also update that information by opening your account information and choosing the Options tab then scrolling down to find Demographic Information.
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ASIN: B07B63CTKX |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 6.99
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