Saying Something Real
Being in a hurry - or tired or grumpy or antisocial etc - is no excuse for not taking the time and effort to make your contributions meaningful.
This is everything that crosses my mind after I stop with the excuse. I think about all the throw-away phrases I use where I could have actually said something valuable. I once wrote, "Every time you say blah blah blah, a creative writing teacher dies," and I meant it. Each time you open your mouth, you have an opportunity to build something. That's the perspective you want during the uncomfortable dead silence, not the victim-based emotion of excuse.
(via Rands)