The Catalyst

Hello All,

When I send out the Catalyst I normally can’t wait to see how you all respond. Some people will agree and others won’t. That’s ok because I don’t write the Catalyst for philosophical validation. I write because I want the subject to be talked about and discussed around the water cooler. I want to give you something to think about for weeks to come. Last week I wrote about keeping your personal business private. I can tell I struck a chord because I didn’t get my usual tithe of response emails. I take that to mean that I’m in the right choir singing the right song. Since I tapped a sensitive spot there’s only one thing to do: Talk about it again this week.
Back in the day, our heroes were allowed to be heroes because their privacy was protected. Sure a few insiders knew about certain bad behaviors/habits but the general public was oblivious. Now, sealed court testimony somehow gets leaked to the media, positive drug tests from years ago somehow resurface, and the only way to stop identity theft is to have bad credit. Previously, I stated that it would be wise to keep your business to yourself. I say that because we live in “The Snitch Era”. I know different people have a different definition of a snitch. Since I’m writing this we’ll use mine. To me, a snitch is someone who gains from telling other people’s personal information. A snitch tells the police about another criminal so that his punishment will get reduced (like in gangster movies). Sometimes snitches tell other people’s indiscretions to obnubilate* their own. Kobe Bryant snitched on Shaq concerning his infidelities when he himself got caught up. I’m no Kobe hater but it is what it is. Another example of snitching is celebrity blogs. You know what I’m talking about. Perez Hilton, Nicole Bitchie, and a host of other gossip artists make a living by spreading truth, half-truth, and no truths to the masses. All the salacious chitchat seems entertaining because there is no feeling like knowing something that should be secret. Of course, gossip is only entertaining when it’s not about you.
Living in “The Snitch Era” requires that you keep your affairs close to the chest. You hear “experts” claim that you shouldn’t hold things in. “They” say that if you keep your feelings bottled up they could have dire consequences. I’m here to tell you that you have the strength get past any heartbreak, job loss, or any other crisis that comes your way ON YOUR OWN. A lot of times it’s the people we trust the most that violate our privacy. We tell someone something to get the stress off our chest. The next thing you know 10 more people start giving you advice about a situation you only shared with one person.
You can never trust a snitch. Snitches only look out for themselves and will say anything to make themselves look better. They’ll sell out their partner for less jail time. They’ll steal a sex tape from a famous friend and put it online for the world to see. Even if you’re not a criminal or a celebrity you still have to worry about snitches. Snitches are everywhere. They’re the ones who tell your boss thatYOU were late when the BOTH of you went to lunch and came back together. They’re the ones who tell your friends that even though you BOTH were at the club last night, only YOU got drunk. I know what you’re thinking. “Dang, Rallo it sounds like you got some trifling friends.” Well, I have about as many as you do.

“When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.” - David Brin


Dream Big. Live Bigger.



The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
http://thecatalystexperience.blogspot.com/
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*Word you’ve never heard…
obnubilate /ahb-NOO-buh-layt/ verb – to obscure or complicate