Circling The Awareness Wagons

Yesterday’s post ended up with quite the discussion on Facebook. I learned something outside my scope of narrow understanding. But the greatest thing about it… It was a civil discussion. Yes! A civil discussion! Something that’s as rare as finding a Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card. Finding an Amazing Spider-Man number 1. Finding a Yugo that still runs.

I was waiting all day for things to go screaming off the tracks and crashing into a house of rescue puppies. Because as we all know… People just cannot be civil to each other on social media. If folks disagree they simply cannot let someone be entitled to their opinions, they must get angry and throw civility to the wolves. If a differing opinion arises, it must be tracked down, hunted, and gutted.

I experienced that with a friend in real life on Facebook when I wrote about the first time that I walked into the room to see Dr. Ford before the Senate Committee to give her statement about Kavanaugh. Until I read the crawl on the bottom of the TV screen, she looked like Dana Carvey with a Garth wig on. I prefaced the post with all kinds of disclaimers, but that didn’t stop the rage with my particular friend.

She said that I attacked her looks, her intelligence, her achievements, and called her names. Which I clearly did not, but in her mind I’m guilty because she believes that I disagreed with Ford’s testimony. Which I did not. She deserved to be heard. But that didn’t keep my former friend from insulting me. Well, she tried to insult me. As a Scorpio, I appreciate good sarcasm even if it’s directed towards my thick radio skin that repels insults like hail stones bouncing off pavement. I’m used to being insulted for entertainment. Nice try though. I responded in kind because I was misunderstood and I just couldn’t let it pass. Don’t poke the bear unless you want the claws. I found it amusing and I found it rather disconcerting.

We have known each other for 18 years and I thought that she knew me better than what she misinterpreted. She had no desire to discuss. She was right in her mind and unfriended me… I love the ol’ cheap hit and run tactic… I took a few moments to think about her feelings until it clicked. She rarely “likes” my posts or even comments on them. We’ve only been friends simply because we worked with each other for over 8 years. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was her problem and no big loss. I don’t need a sorehead friend that gets angry with my stupid observations that they misinterpret.

So to quote the great Cheap Trick… “Buenos noches o senor, Senorita see ya later, Buenos noches bye-bye”

But to get back to yesterday’s post… Ladies, get your mammograms. Everyone is trying to make you aware of the importance of getting them for the whole month of October. And that’s the part that eluded me. The “awareness” isn’t for all of us. It’s for the ones of us that just keep chugging along with the “it’ll never happen to me” mindset. Get those mammograms!

And guys, it can happen to you too! Peter Criss, former member of KISS, is a breast cancer survivor. So, give yourself an examination the same way the ladies do. I do it. There’s a history of breast cancer in my family. And my wife will occasionally supplement my own self-examination with her inspection. If you let your significant other give you an examination, chances are good that you’ll enjoy it. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Django Django

I have a love/hate relationship with social media.

I love that I can reconnect with friends that I’ve lost track of during the years. I love that I can post the silly thoughts that pop into my head. I love that I can live vicariously through someone’s vacation or event pictures like concerts. I love that I can keep track of my relatives and with what’s going on in their lives. I love writing stupid comments on the local television news postings. I love seeing the pets of my friends. I love that most people see social media as a fun place with tidbits of information.

Thank goodness there’s a lot for me to love. But on the other hand…

I don’t like seeing people constantly moaning and bitching about something that went wrong in their day. How it’s the norm for their lives. It’s one thing to inform everyone about a health issue, but stupid stuff like every day setbacks don’t really call for Eeyore to grab a bullhorn for a blast of negativity. I’ve seen people post things about doing good and remaining positive only to counter that posting a few hours later with a negative blast about their ex or how the Universe won’t allow them to be happy.

I’m starting to dislike the religious postings where they’re convinced that Christianity is under attack because they believe some talking head on some agenda driven website or some broadcast network. I used to find them amusing, but the lack of actual information being tossed around in those postings alarms me. A&E and even the NFL have become fodder for this ridiculous movement on social media. I’ve even jumped into a friend’s discussion only to be insulted by someone fighting and making a stand for Christianity. I guess when you refuse to face the real facts you must do what Jesus would do… Call someone an idiot. I’m too lazy to look up the actual verse, but I think it’s in the Book of Matthew somewhere.

If you disagree and try to present actual facts, you’re labeled a liberal or even worse… Someone that voted for Obama. For some reason, Christianity goes hand in hand with propagandist right wing media.

And for the record, I haven’t seen any Jehoviah Witnesses, Catholics, Episcopalians, or Mormons jumping on that band wagon. But according to my Southern Baptist upbringing, those cats are wrong and they’re all going to Hell anyway.

I’m not attacking. I’m using my experience of growing up for 18 years in a Southern Baptist church. I cannot tell you how many times that I’ve heard about other Christians being wrong and bound for Hell.

I also don’t care for the “I’m so happy in my relationship that I must post daily about my undying love and affection”.

Shut. Up. Who really wants to hear that every day?

It’s the opposite of the Eeyore types and that bothers me as well.

First thought that comes to me… Yeah, who are you trying to convince?

Second thought that comes to mind… Was everyone in your past that big of a douche that when someone comes along and treats you better you must constantly rave about them on social media?

“My husband brought an iced tea to work just for me. I love that man! He’s the greatest in the world. Birds fly above him chirping away as my heart sings.”

Are they posting for the benefit of their partner? Does the partner need some sort of validation or reassurance?

Third thought that comes to mind… Must you be so damn open with everything?

And oddly, those are the types that post lots of their doings on social media and yet have a problem with adding Netflix to their Facebook because they don’t want everyone to see what they’ve been watching.

I don’t get it. But I have blocked those types from popping up in my newsfeed. I just don’t care for candy-coated turds looking for some kind of weird approval about their relationship. Just limit that brand of affection to birthday and anniversaries please. I have never been a fan of the PDA (Public Display of Affection).

Then there’s the selfie types that must post pictures of themselves daily. I don’t like those either… Unless they’re selfies of attractive women. And the more cleavage the better.

Hey, I’m fueled by testosterone and these are MY likes and dislikes.

The vaping selfies are the most peculiar to me.

There’s the constant political poster. It doesn’t matter what side of the aisle they're on, they have an ax to grind. And grinding that ax in public will eventually cause someone to stop in their tracks and realize they’re on the wrong path.

Uh-Huh.

I must stay away from those types. I’m a Libertarian and that means the left and right hate my opinions. So I’ve gotten in the habit of blocking those people so I don’t get involved. It benefits no one really.

And finally, there’s the excessive hashtaggers. Whether it’s Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook they must hashtag every possible word in the posting. #YouKnow #What #IAm #TalkingAbout #?

The rule is – limit yourself to three hashtags per posting. The rule is about eliminating social media eyesores. But I say nothing with the hopes that they’ll eventually find out some information about proper hashtagging.

Do you agree or disagree with any of these?

Leave a comment and exorcise your discontent. I promise not to call you names or insult you.