What application or task is the biggest challenge to manage on a network and why?

I found myself having an altruistic moment this morning. I was reading a friend's Christmas wish on Facebook. She'd wished for something on a national scale. I felt a little scornful; no one pays attention to that! But then I had my own moment. Here's what I wish for:

Less selfishness.

Let me rephrase that in a positive way. More selflessness.

I want politicians to stop worrying about reelection and start worrying about what will truly be in the best interests of the people who elected them. I want religious people to stop worrying about the literal interpretation of their holy works and instead to worry about expressing the spiritual values behind those works. I want church leaders to worry about keeping their ranks clear of those who bully and molest instead of worrying about their public image.

I want public figures of all sorts to keep their private lives private and their dignity intact. I don't want to know who's unfaithful, and with whom. Crazily, I do not want to know about anyone else's sex life, because it's none of my business.

I want . . . a better world. A world with more honor.

I had two more paragraphs of this, and I've deleted them, because they strayed from my main point and were simply self-indulgent. This is what I'm thinking about: it seems to me that we don't hold ourselves to a higher standard any more. It seems to me that everyone should look in a mirror in the morning and say, "I'll try to be a better person today than I was yesterday," and mean it.

What a wonderful year we'd have, if we could all do that!

Maybe this sounds insufferably self-righteous, but I can only say that that's what I was thinking of today. This is straight from the heart.

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Comments

[Charlaine Harris]

Also, obviously, I was too carried away to delete the "prompt" questions. Sorry!

[krisneri]

Amen, Charlaine. You've spoken for lots of people with this. I'm sure many people would like to see more honor in this world. Thanks for posting this.

[Dana]

Charlaine: yes. I keep thinking about the idea of doing "what is best for the individual--*and* the group" and what amazing changes that could come from that. More of this in 2011--or even right now!

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

AH, Charlaine. Remember in Network when Peter Finch tells everyone to go to the window and yell?

You're starting a new movement--go to the mirror.

Thank you. Doing just that.

[Elaine Viets]

Amen from me, too, Charlaine. And peace and good will to men AND women.

[Annette Naish]

Thank you for saying what so many of us feel - maybe we need to start relearning the meanings of words - integrity, honesty, self-respect, privacy, ashamed. Thanks again. You said it, Ma'am.