It's a general election year and I realize people get excited about their candidates and sometimes supporters, even the candidates, go overboard with their exuberance showing excitement that we won't see for another three years.

            'Tis the season for the countless broadcasts of political ads and the almost never-ending coverage of political conventions.

            For the most part, they are educational and informative.  Listening to the way a candidate or supporter delivers their message is helped by the way the message is relayed from their mouth to your ears.

            A good speaker can deliver their message to anyone.  Hearing and understanding their message is important.  How do you know if you agree or disagree with them? And if you don't understand or are frightened when they shout their message, it's hard to cast your ballot for them.  I want to hear the message, not be blown into the next room.

            There is nothing wrong with a candidate or supporter raising their voice for emphasis while speaking to a crowd. But, there is something uneasy to many listeners when that candidate or supporter is standing at a podium screaming their message at the top of their lungs and waving their arms in an attempt to frighten, rather than excite, you.

            You may be scaring the listener away from your candidate and into the camp of another.

            All sides are guilty and there are too many people who think they are high-profile that are doing it. Most of them are only high-profile in their own minds.

            Shouting your message to the crowd doesn't make you a good speaker.

            If you feel the need to shout because you can, go ahead.  It just makes many listeners question just what the heck you stand for.  If you feel that shouting your message is the best way to scare–I mean encourage–listeners, you may want to play the video of someone shouting as loud as they can while waving their arms about them.  Especially someone you disagree with.

            It, kind of, takes on a different perspective.

            So, go ahead and talk to me, even raise your voice for emphasis.

            The second you begin to shout, I'll quickly turn you off and try listening to another candidate or supporter.