Lack of Discretion

Discretion:

the quality of being discreet, esp. with reference to one's own actions or speech; prudence or decorum.

Where has discretion gone in our society? People seem so free to share every private detail about their personal lives anymore.

It is like constantly watching The Jerry Springer Show or Maury.

I am amazed at the information my high school-aged daughter knows about the sexual lives of her fellow classmates...and these aren't even close friends.

But it isn't just teenagers.

Couldn't Senator Larry Craig have been a little more discreet? I actually saw Senator Craig two or three days after the "incident" happened while on my trip to Washington D.C. last June. One of his staff was giving us a tour of the Capitol Building, and we ran into him in the corridor.

And we were also in the Minneapolis Airport that week because we switched planes there. Thank goodness we didn't know of the things going on.

Idaho Escapee at Atmospheric Ruminations shared his thoughts on the subject here, and his thoughts got me thinking.

Why do people share their "dirty laundry"? Why do people make choices that could very well become public, when they are public figures themselves?

Is it a lack of

self control?

1. control or restraint of oneself or one's actions, feelings, etc.

I just finished reading a book by Gregg Olsen called "Confessions of an American Black Widow" a true crime novel about a woman whose lover killed two of her husbands. She was the poster child for lack of self control. She married for money. She killed for money. She lived for what she wanted. She had sex with whoever and whenever she wanted. And ended up in jail with no chance of parole until she is in her 80's.

In my world, discretion and self control are pretty big on the list of things to do in your life. The Bible talks about self control as being one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. So to me it is pretty important. It isn't always easy, but I know I try and live the way I believe God wants me to, so those fruits are lived through my life. I believe He helps me and gives me strength to have self control.

I've learned I can't do everything I want to do in life. I can't have everything I want. Giving in to my every desire is dangerous. It is good to show restraint.

And that way I don't have to know so much about everyone's business.

TMI (Too Much Information)

Can you all just keep that stuff to yourselves?