So I woke up 3 this morning, had a wonderful cup of chamomile tea, checked my email, wrote a few pages, and then...checked Facebook. You know exactly what I'm going to say next don't you? You're all so insightful. That is why you're all here, of course you super intellectuals.
Facebook is the buzz kill that keeps us all connected. Now don't get me wrong. I enjoy reading positive, insightful, hilarious, informative, heart-wrenching status updates from my very closest 460 odd friends. But (you knew there was a but), most of what I tend to see is the drama laden rants of the insecure which, as you can tell, took the chamo right out of my mile. Its a soothing tea they say. Really, try some. Just don't log on to Facebook right away after drinking some.
To be honest, the statuses displayed are some of the most depressing, debilitating, eviscerate, and bleak I've seen in some time--and I'm not talking about sickness, the loss of a loved one, inhumane treatment of animals, or a tragic turn. I'm referring to the statuses which foster hopelessness and breed negativity. Those are the ones which seek answers to problems or which constantly beg for us to respond to them, as if by miraculous intervention our 3-lined comment could but magical solve that which seems desolately irreversible.
Are you done yet Ty? Um, no. Why? Because there is another element in the equation which must be acknowledged for these people of whom I speak, act not alone. Light bulb? Of course light bulb. You're lighting up all over the freaking place you rocket scientists just as did I at about 5am this morning. Newton's 3rd Law of motion conveys that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, we--the responders or reactors to these posts--enable the statustician (not a word, unlike its homophonic cousin "statistician" but you have to admit, its kinda cool), facilitating their need to be heard. Ask yourself, how many times the person has actually taken your advice? Very low percentage right? That's because they don't actually care what you have to say, they just wanted to feed their need to be heard.
So I wanted to send a message out there for those who are addicted to drama and use us (those who would listen) as sounding boards. Cut it the fuck out. Seriously. Now who am I really taking to; them or us? More them, with a subliminal hint of minty us on the side.
The truth is that there will always exist certain people who feel the need to sabotage their own happiness by disregarding the obvious calamity which exists in their own lives. They who continue to exemplify the characteristics which typify the definition of insanity will always look to those who listen and counsel with open arms. Do they seek out approval? Maybe on some small scale, but I seriously doubt our words of wisdom truly matter in the grand scheme so long as the cry for help has been replied to (in comment form) in a timely manner.
So what's the solution you ask? Trim down the advice machine. Take into account the source and begin recognizing patterns which identify and characterize these people. Instead of wasting valuable moments of your life that you can never get back, try being casually pseudo apathetic. I know right? I just blew your mind with that nonsensical turn of phrase which just might save your life. Blowing your mind again right? From now on, my response, or lack thereof, will be cheekily like a card you buy at the Hallmark store for $1.99. For those who fall into the category we're so passionately discussing, I want you to know that it's not that I don't love you. It's really that I love myself enough to tell the inner me, "stop facilitating negative behavior by responding positively to people who are only trying to momentarily repair their fractured psyche, not truly interested in the long term rehabilitation of their negative outlook on life."
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