robin tidwell « Robin Writes

I’m starting to get a little aggravated by the many, many social media posts/articles about being “kind” and “let’s make the world a better place” and stuff like that.

Why in the world would that irritate anyone?

Because I do these things. Because everyone I know does these things. Because we don’t need reminders to do these things when a major disaster occurs.

Here’s an example:

Women and skin care. The cosmetics industry has many women convinced that, if they buy this product or that one, all their problems—skin and otherwise—will magically disappear.

Let me tell you: I have yet to find the spackle that will do this.

So women everywhere are tense and stressed about looking younger, and constantly seeking the solution.

Okay, fine, YOU are not one of them. Doesn’t change the cosmetics industry’s marketing ploy.

So let’s say you’re carrying on with your daily life and you’re nice to people and you donate time and money to charity, and you try really hard to see the opposite point of view. With me so far?

Then you see posts about how being “kind” will fix the world—and right away you think, “Oh, no! I should do more!”

And the guilt sets in. Whether or not you realize it or acknowledge it.

You hear all the time about how “stressed” we are—sure, it’s the news media and our constant exposure, but it’s all this irrational guilt that says if only you would do MORE . . .

I’m betting, if you’re reading this, that you’re a rational human being, at least mostly, and you do not go out of your way—or even inadvertently—to piss off everyone. You don’t globetrot to blow up things and people, you don’t send subversive messages all over the place.

YOU are not the problem.

In spite of the 70s Coke commercials.

The problem are radicalized individuals and groups who think this shit is fun stuff and they’re going to be rewarded in their version of heaven.

Again, YOU are not the problem. Which means YOU are not the solution. No matter how “kind” you are, YOU are not going to fix the world.

So stop already. Stop feeling guilty and stressed because you don’t think you’re “kind” enough.

Admittedly, these are some of MY pet peeves; doing these things doesn’t mean you’ll lose all your “friends,” not even me. But they sure are annoying:

“Talking,” or typing, on the page of a deceased person. Especially when your comments are directed to them. Seriously, peeps, they aren’t watching or reading, let alone going to answer to you. I get that you want to remember them and feel close to them, but surely there are better ways to do this besides social media.

Speaking of, few things are creepier than having a dead person’s birthday show up in your newsfeed. Take the page down or make it private. Please.

Sharing old news. This gets old fast. Some people are going to comment, but probably half of those will be along the lines of “hey dude, this happened TWO YEARS AGO!”

Exhorting people to share something if they think that ________sucks. Good grief. We all know cancer sucks, among other things. We don’t need a sharefest for this.

Likewise, sharing or commenting or liking to “support” something. This does nothing.

“Reply all” has to be one of the most annoying inventions ever. If you get an email asking if you’ll be at XYZ meeting, you don’t need to hit “reply all.” Really, no one but the sender cares if you’re coming or not; if there are one or two people to whom this might matter, email them separately. I certainly don’t need to get 17 emails that say “I’ll be there” or “can’t make it.”

This particularly applies to group emails of jokes, funny stories, lists, and other assorted things that I’ve probably already seen. And especially when some of the recipients take a day or so to respond, because they MUST RESPOND, and I keep seeing it all week long.

Also, don’t send the same damn email to more than one of a person’s email addresses. I don’t need duplicates, I get enough email as it is. Before you reply, or “reply all” ONLY when it’s absolutely necessary, as during an actual discussion of some sort, check the email addresses. Please. PLEASE!

Stop “liking” bad stuff, things like an obit or a horrible news story. Comment if you will, but for heaven’s sake don’t “like” it. Sheesh. “My dog got hit by a car today” received 25 “likes.” What’s wrong with you people?

Old post comments are near the top of the annoying list. Yesterday, I got a FB notification that someone commented on one of my comments. Naturally, I went to look and guess what—I kid you not—my post was from FOUR YEARS ago! Good grief.

And finally, just because virtual communication is effectively 24/7, don’t message someone outside of regular business hours and expect any kind of prompt response. Or even one at all, because we’ll undoubtedly forget all about it by the next day. I understand wanting to do it while you’re thinking about it, but instant messaging is like a conversation; it’s in the moment. Logging on in the morning, or turning on your phone and having six or so messages, is like walking into your office and having a line outside the door at 6:00 a.m.

Nothing is that urgent, unless it’s a family emergency, a life or death kind of thing.