Insults, Thick Skin, and The Code

There’s a lot of talk in politics today about having a “thick skin.” Generally speaking, a person with a “thick skin” is thought of as one who can take insults without difficulty. Some politicians and athletes are thought of as people with “thick skins” because they are insulted so much that they become accustomed to it. We disagree with the idea of “thick skins.” We believe that everyone is hurt by insults and verbal abuse. But we all react differently. Some people return nasty words with more nasty words. Some simply ignore the words either because they do not like confrontation, or because they do not believe that responding will achieve anything. Words, like sticks and stones, do hurt. The Code reminds us to respect the dignity of every person, and never to be abusive or dehumanizing to others. There is no place in sports for taunting, trash talking, or belittling others. What are the examples that you see the most? How do you react when people say things to you that are negative? What are the things you can do to help make a difference?