The best and the worst of the internet

I was just stunned, perhaps even horrified is a fair word, to learn about a vicious campaign being waged on Twitter against Baby K’tan, our friend’s company that designs and markets infant carriers. The carriers come in various different fabrics and styles, and both the web site and the various boxes in which the carriers are packaged are full of sweet pictures of people “wearing” babies. Apparently someone saw two boxes of Baby K’tan carriers on the shelf of a local store: one with a picture of a white couple with the woman wearing a baby, the other with a picture of a black woman wearing a baby. Looking at these two boxes that just happened to be on the shelf in that particular store at that particular moment, knowing nothing about the company, and clearly not even bothering to take a look at their web site, the person took to Twitter and accused the company of racism. Sadly, this post has “gone viral.” Michal is working with lawyers and consultants to determine the appropriate response to such unjustified and untrue claims.

I am reminded of a traditional Jewish tale.

Once there was a child who loved to tell stories about his friends. Sometimes the stories were true, and sometimes the stories were not quite true. The neighborhood children did not like their gossiping friend. One day they decided to ask the Rabbi's advice. 

The Rabbi heard their complaints, and called the child to his house. 

"Why do you make up stories about your friends?" the Rabbi asked. 

"It's only talk," replied the child. "I can always take it back." 

"Perhaps you are right," said the Rabbi, and he began to talk of other things. As the child was ready to leave, the Rabbi asked, "I wonder if you would do something for me." 

"Of course," said the child 

The Rabbi took a pillow from the couch and handed it to the child. "Take this pillow to the town square. When you get there, cut it open, and shake out the feathers. Then come back." 

The child was puzzled, but agreed to do what the Rabbi said. He carried the pillow to the town square and cut it open. The breeze scattered the feathers across the sky. 

The child returned to the Rabbi's house and told him what he had done. 

The Rabbi seemed pleased. He handed the boy a basket and said, "Now please go back to the square, and gather the feathers up again." 

The child gasped, "But that's impossible." 

"You are right," said the Rabbi. "So is it not possible to take back all the untrue things you said about others. Be careful with the words you spread. Once spoken and sent on their way, they cannot be gathered again." 

If you or any of your friends has a Baby K’tan carrier, please know that this accusation is not only vicious but just plain wrong! It is not going to be easy to collect all those nasty feathers.

Love,

Rebecca