#TheDress and Why It Matters

[pinit] 

On February 26, 2015 there were few places you could turn without hearing about or seeing #theDress. It was all over my Facebook newsfeed, and was even featured on my local nightly news.

Whether you were perplexed, annoyed, or indifferent, you saw it.

The Great Debate of #TheDress

At face-value it was a distraction from anything productive for the day (and possibly even a couple to follow), I won’t argue that. However, I won’t say that the discussion and debate that ensued was pointless.

#TheDress debate matters for us all.

At it’s core #theDress was a look at how our internet (and real life) interactions are often easily influenced by the controlled release of information by someone else. The media, our friends, or our favorite writers.

Not a fact we like when we feel so strongly, but it’s true.

A little sleuthing uncovered the source of the dress and verified it as royal blue and black.

However, the image on tumblr was definitely easily seen as white and gold.

Does it matter?

It does!

How often do we get our emotions all worked up, good or bad, after we see something come across our newsfeed, or Instagram? We form our opinion, our reaction, our answer… and it’s go time. We will fight it to the bitter end.

 

So #theDress that sparked debate… it was a washed out photo in bad need of correct lighting, but really anything you read on the internet is filtered by the person who is sharing it.

Don’t let someone else’s edit rock you to the core!

Yes, I’m a blogger and I’m warning you against ‘listening’ to bloggers, but really it’s just a reminder of what you already know.

What we share on the internet, on our blogs, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on Twitter, no matter how real it is… Is still an edit of the real thing.

Before you burn friendships from a misunderstanding and a different point of view, think about how far removed from the source you are.

 

How annoyed have you gotten by someone’s Instagram feed of all the awesome activities they do with their children, while you’re struggling to get your children dressed each day, let alone something creative planned?

…Have you considered that after more miscarriages than they ever dreamed possible, they’re seizing every single moment they have with their living child?

How many times have you rolled your eyes at a Facebook status of how “blessed” that certain friend is, and how much their significant other dotes on them?

…Have you considered that just a few years ago their marriage may have been on the brink of divorce?

How many times have you felt defeated that once again your friend has posted another meticulously prepared-from-scratch meal, while you’re reheating chicken nuggets?

…Have you considered that a well prepared meal may be the one task that they can accomplish in the midst of the chaos of their family life when the rest of their surroundings seem to be crumbling?

It’s perspective.

We may not have control over what we see, but we have total control over how we let it effect us.

The dress was blue, it looked white, and the reality is that with a photo edit, they could have made it look red. But what will you do with that information?

For me, it was a reminder that what I see shared across the information highway is not the be all, end all. I am all for social media sharing and virtual community, but it must be tempered with our face-to-face involvement in each others lives.

Use what you see to empower your life and family.

Use your influence to build into and build up those around you.

I’ve been struck most by how the Salvation Army has used #theDress debate to shine a light on what has been silenced for far too long.

Definitely puts the first-world debate into perspective.

The internet and social media have such great potential for good…

Just don’t allow ourselves to be caught up in the petty bits.

 

How do you filter what you see come across your screen to propel you towards what is good?

If you appreciate what you’ve read, please share it with your friends. Thanks!