I know this one guy...he...
No, you don't want to hear about that, but let me tell you what I think about all these so-called trolls and people who get off by hiding behind anonymity and making rude comments on social media...
Maybe not, but I know something that you will really get a kick out of hearing. People thrive on negativity. From rubber-necking car crashes to watching celebrity meltdowns, our culture has become obsessed with all things bad. Social media has only made it worse. People hide behind their computer screens and spew stuff that they would never have the stones to say if the person in question were within "punch in the nose" distance. Blogs that spew hate and negativity get traffic in droves, but if you are saying something positive...people might wander by if you are lucky.
I tested that theory here over the past few months when I began to notice the trend...and if I was stepping out with something edgy, I saw almost double the number of visits versus when I shared positive experiences. So what happened? I really do think that the social media has made us more UNsocial. We have become trash-talking gossip mongers. How is that considered "social"?
So here is the challenge. For the next 72 hours...all the way through the weekend...make no disparaging comments, and instead, share a positive experience with your friends. Stay away from gossip. Use the old rule "If you can't say something nice...then don't say anything at all." Can it really be that difficult?
That is a real challenge because I bet most of us can't make it more than 24 hours without a good, nasty dose of schadenfreude. For many, schadenfreude is more important than sex.
ReplyDeleteFor those of us who are saying, "I totally know what that word means...I think...I'm pretty sure...well maybe NOT EXACTLY...but I kinda know..." (like me)
DeleteFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Schadenfreude i/ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/ (German: [ˈʃaːdənˌfʁɔʏdə]) is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.[1] This word is a loanword from German, and is also borrowed in some other languages. It has been calqued[citation needed] in Danish and Norwegian as skadefryd, in Swedish as skadeglädje, in Finnish as vahingonilo, and in Russian and Bulgarian as 'злорадство' (zlo'radstvo).
And yes, Catie...I agree. I know there are groups on Facebook...private ones made just to talk trash about other people. How sad is that? I think we need to try to get back to being good. Even if it is only a couple days a week. :-)
So true. I rarely rant, but one of the most read posts on my blog was a lambasting I gave a large financial institution (Citibank and they still suck).
ReplyDeleteI've re-doubled my efforts to use my blog/social media to promote and highlight the fantastic people I meet. Win-win-win.
Part of the problem...or should I say, THE problem, is human nature. The Romans faced unsatisfied masses, so what did they do? They gave them what they wanted. Other humans being fed to lions, slaves being forced to face off against each other as gladiators, etc. Human nature what it is, can you expect less?
ReplyDeleteI find it sad that so many are like that. They find an almost erotic pleasure in pushing the buttons of others anonymously. They troll others from the safety of their keyboard knowing they are safe and sound from repercussion. They have no other purpose in life other than to raise the misery index for others, all in a vain attempt to bring some small sliver of pleasure to their own pitiful lives. Keyboard commandos I call them. Trolls to most others. They're all heroes in their own minds. Hiding in their mother's basement doing their best to bring others down.
The best advice I can give to anyone is to never try to argue with one of these idiots...because you can't argue with an idiot. They'll only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Take Todd's challenge. Go forth and be a positive influence. Take it a step further though, if you can. Don't only say only positive things, try to only do positive things. Volunteer to assist someone in need. "Pay it forward" if you will. It may never catch on, and your only reward may be a warm fuzzy feeling inside, but that warm fuzzy is YOURS. And nobody else can take it away.
There. My touchy-feely two cents.
Human Nature is to torture others.... hmmm must be why I prefer animals to humans....
ReplyDelete