Thanks for your feedback @sneak; it is greatly appreciated!
To me, the Airing of Grievances is a time to rant, and the "righteous indignation" (as @onceuponatime most accurately called it) is exactly what makes it funny. Frank Costanza's emotional attachment to things that only bother him at the expense of everyone else's comfort is amusing to me, and (I think) that's why Seinfeld fans like his character.
That aside, I do see voting choices as a reflection of values - everything is a reflection of values. My sense of humor reflects my values. I do think that most everyone have skewed values; the majority in this society supports consumerism, for example. To me, framing my opinions of values as an Airing of Grievances makes it a humorous and approachable way to open a discussion.
My point is only halfway that this content wasn't upvoted, and the other half is what IS actually being upvoted. Sustainability is overlooked in favor of posts that (maybe unconsciously) promote waste - that is where poor values are apparent to me. @everlove's collaborative art journey is not upvoted, although the creations she inspired is. Overlooking the muse is silly to me.
I believe to create the most beneficial community for everyone, each individual has to address their own beliefs and values and align them with the highest good of all/find the community where they are aligned.
One of the beneficial but sometimes uncomfortable parts of living in community for me means that we point out for one another when standards fall below par, and that is my intention in calling it out here in - for readers to check their heads and see where they're coming from. I thought I did it in a way that was entertaining and less threatening, but maybe you disagree if you take it personally.
I think criticism has to be addressed so we have the opportunity to learn and grow and adapt. I believe that's the intention behind your comment as well, so now we have an intentional conversation where everyone wants to bring their best!
That's completely legitimate.
To accuse people of having poor values because they did not upvote something is where the problem lies. People have many reasons for not upvoting, including simple ones like "didn't see it", "too busy spending time with their families", et c. You don't get to make the logical leap to "poor values" because of something they didn't do.
If that were true, I could blame each and every American for the deaths caused by their country's military abroad simply because they didn't raise up with force and put a stop to it. That's absurd and it's not how the world works.
Inaction is still an action; it's still a choice to not do something.
Perhaps voting is more automated than I realize, but I don't understand how @everlove for example is not seen when the posts she inspires (that are rewarded) acknowledge her.
But never mind my personal/Frank Costanza-esque irritation; let's just put that aside for a moment because it's not really the root of what I'm trying to get at. There are X amount of votes in a day, and if they are going towards the problem rather than the solution, that to me is poor values. I open a conversation because many people are completely unconscious of how socially accepted behavior actually contributes to the death and destruction of our planet. Shopping at stores and eating at restaurants supports the global military industrial complex, regardless of how uncomfortable it is to look at that. And there are many upvotes going towards perpetuating it!
Every American IS responsible for it! These acts are being carried out in our names, and that's dishonorable. I totally think that people who do not oppose the military are supporting it. I don't think everyone needs to rise up with force, but at the very least dissent! Taxpayers have a blind spot towards what they fund, or they have poor values. I believe everyone should focus on better systems.
That's not how it works. Desmond Tutu is wrong, and he applies volition where there is none in effort to assign blame. I can relate, but I cannot agree.
I think to look away from injustice is an endorsement for it to continue, which is a choice and an action. Karma racks up for it; it has an effect in the world.
I believe he says this to encourage responsibility in individuals rather than to assign blame. The maybe subtle difference in intentions is where I think values really live.