"Ooh...that's a touchy subject."
Days and days and days go by, and really...how often do you hear this phrase?
A lot.
And when I say-a lot. I mean, a crap-ton.
Daily. Hourly.
Touchy subject.
Let those words sink in for just a minute.
In a Facebook culture-those words are just common moniker.
Taboo is no longer taboo. People talk about everything-openly. On a public forum, like it is chattel.
People post memes of declaration and passionate topics like they are standing on their own personal soap box-only from behind the safe confines of their Think Pads and Chromebooks.
There are no real heroes in this world.
Even politicians, activists, are joining hand in hand with housewives and students behind the veil of the interwebs. They cry out in unison..."this is unfair, that is right, this is unjust, this is left..."
People.
It's fucking ridiculous.
I posted last last week about the Kavanaugh debacle, and the nuances and not-so-nuanced blathering opinions of everyone, and how tragically wrong most of the populace is about how they deem what's fair in the world. And by the by, this is now topically centered around a Supreme Court appointment.
And now we return to the touchy subjects.
What the hell, right? I have decided to list them.
You know-those Facebook buzzwords that seem to raise the hackles of everyone in these dangerous days? Because, I believe that being an open book most of my life has been the single most cathartic thing I have ever done.
AND because being transparent doesn't necessarily make you invisible.
So let's be transparent. Let's put it all out there. Let's bear our soul and our collective pasty asses and just give the words some MORE publicity and more spotlight, shall we?
1. Racism. White privilege. White guilt.
2. Sexual Assault. Misogyny. Rape.
3. Poiltics. Right Wing, Left Wing, politicians.
4. Police Misconduct.
5. LGBTQ. (That's Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Trans-gender, Questioning for those out of the slang loop)
6. Gun Control. School Shootings. The Second Amendment.
I guess my question is this: Why are we treating all of these touchy subjects like your own personal mantras?
It's OK to have an opinion. I'd say that a great deal more people these days tend to have stronger opinions than 25 years ago. But, with that said...
Very few of you could call yourselves an expert on any of it. No matter how "intelligent" you think you are.
When did the controversy become your life? When did you decide to make your
Stop it.
Seriously.
I want to like people. I truly do. I want to be liked (to some degree) Don't we all? I mean, I totally strive to have that kind of popularity.
I'm totally kidding...obviously I don't get a shit if you like me or not. And that's real.
But, I do demand that you respect me-and really...that should be the standard.
My likes on Facebook are not my concern.
And it is so hard to genuinely like people these days, especially.
People I thought I liked, not so much anymore.
People I already felt luke-warm feelings for...now are pretty much unliked by me, and when it comes to the internet...they don't appear as a friend in any way shape or form. Mostly because I don't speak asshole. shut-up, I don't.
And...I especially don't have patience for abject ignorance or stupidity. I tend to dance with the ones that brung me, so to speak.
So, where I am really going is here:
Great, if you don't care whether people like you, and have genuinely always been that guy. The guy who is always standing for something, or hollering to an empty, apathetic, audience about nothing-and living the life of this: The definition of insanity-doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result.
If you were always that guy...then keep doing you-Mr. Activist for attention, guy. Go on with your big bad self.
But, if you are a person with an actual life. More interests than social justice behind a computer screen. The person who works, spends time with family and (face to face) real friends, is a productive member of society, and occasionally hates the world-like me. Then keep doing THAT.
You are really much smarter, stronger, and self aware than you are giving yourself credit for when you are typing a 3 paragraph rant on Facebook about a "touchy subject" that the lengths of your knowledge only span from an MSNBC article, or FOX News story.
Be the person who shakes their head, and walks away and goes out to play with your kids, or write a fucking awesome blog entry, or acts in a community theater production (coming soon Something Wicked This Way Comes-Oct 19th-29th at CST) Or, makes a gourmet dinner, or has coffee with a friend around a fall fire pit.
Be THAT person.
Here's the rub...
Because life (as ridiculous and nasty and controversial as it is) is indeed-SHORT. And when you add up all of the hours that you spend posting your rhetorical opinion memes, and arguing on someone else's garbage post...that time is a tickin' away. And you have literally Nothing to show for it.
If it pisses you off...as my BFF and squad mate says: Shake it off.
(I'm kidding...I loathe Taylor Swift-and anyway, Mariah Said it first.)
But shake it off anyway.
Just because it's touchy...doesn't mean you have to defend or offend.
It only means that perspective is calling and telling you to stay aware, acknowledge it, and walk away.
If it's that important to you-then go forth into the real world, you bad ass...and do something real about it.
Trust me when I say...you are an idiot if you think you changed anyone's mind with a social media post.
"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,Signifying nothing...."
-William Shakespeare's Macbeth Act 5-Scene 5.
Learn to signify something. It's so much better than the alternative.
XOXO,
Come to my play-girl. Tickets on sale now.
(Signed, a productive member of society)
