I should probably start by say I LOVE Facebook. And pinterest. And instagram. I have a twitter but I am not cool with being limited to 140 characters so I don't even bother. I think social media can keep people in touch, link us to articles and things we may have never seen before, and let us share happy news quickly and painlessly. There is also the fact that I am totally a cat lady and love all the kitties my friends post on my wall. But I also have days of scrolling my feed where I am like "Seriously WTF people."
I think we all have those friends and family members that post things or comment on things where they are not wanted. The best is when people get all pissy and offended when they are just as bad as those "offending" them. So I'm just gonna put my bullshit front and center: I take too many pictures of my cats. I laugh every time someone posts a shirtless picture of Michael Bolton on my wall. I rarely post my religious/political/personal beliefs because people can be vicious and cruel, and I don't want to hear that shit.
Lately it seems like more and more people feel the need to shove their beliefs down everyone else's throats. Normally I keep scrolling and mind my business, because the way I look at it is if I wanna post Michael Bolton shirtless on my wall why can't you post things I find ignorant/not true on your wall. We are in 'Merica after all and free speech is a gift I am grateful for. What I am not cool with is the select few who feel the need to bully others and tell others how wrong they are. Women I respect and admire are telling me people feel the need to call them out on their beliefs. Not cool internet world, not cool. If you don't like something someone is saying, move along. If they say something directed towards you, then yes by all means, engage. Or be a fucking grown up state why you think it's not okay and get the fuck over it.
When a friends 17th cousin 4 times removed decided to post that she HATED something I posted on MY friends wall I was ready to rip into her for being an asshole but I took a second and stopped. It was so much easier to be like "hey I didn't post this for you sorry if it offended you (even tho I don't know you), but you butting into my business offended me." I like to think of it as the grown up way of telling someone to fuck off. The beauty of the day we live in is that people of all walks of life can be friends and it's OKAY! You don't have to sit with just "your people" anymore. Actually scratch that. I have "my people" and they are smart, beautiful, funny, caring individuals who come from every race/faith/political party known to man and I will sit with them any day.
Many times when people ask me what my beliefs are and why I'm not all up in everyones junk with it, I struggle to answer. Maybe the simplest answer is that I don't feel like dealing with the debates? I would rather not hear that I am "Wrong" when it's something I believe in and think is right? But the honest truth is this: Beliefs change. People grow up. Things I thought were true 10 years ago and would have argued until I was blue in the face about I don't think any more. So yes I have beliefs and opinions. No I don't need to debate them with virtual people I may or may not give a shit about. (Unless it's football season then prepare to be overloaded with Broncos posts) It all comes down to a simple fact, the people who I care about know me, both virtually and in real life. They know who I am, where I am, and that I am wiling to talk about most things even if it's a topic we don't agree on. I also know that these people are super awesome and are capable and okay with conversations that conclude with "hey we may not agree but we still like each other and that's enough"
So please internet world be kind to each other, sometimes not saying anything is more powerful then any words can be. It is okay to look away unless someone is doing something that may harm themselves or others. I will be honest I find myself cracking up as I am writing this, because by nature i am a smart ass. I tend to be a rough say what I want kind of person. I spent many years thinking it was okay to say whatever the hell I wanted because I had friends and didn't need to give a care to what others thought. And while I am sitting here preaching internet kindness I should come clean. I am not a nice person all the time. I do say mean things that aren't productive to a more loving society. So I am no asking for some dramatic change in the world I am asking people to realize when and where it is okay to say these things. I am also reminding myself that sometimes there is a less brazen approach then being like "hey fuck you"
I guess I am really no better then the people I am whining about :)
