Everyone has a bit of a rant on facebook etc now a days. Every so often a fight will break out on a social networking site and everyone who knows them gets a look in.
A lot of people tend to slag it off, giving their reasons to why it's not appropriate, but is it really as bad as people make it out to be?
Everyone has human emotions, and at times because we're so full of them, we need to vent, let something off our chest, and Facebook and other social networking sites have become a place to do so. I'm not saying it's right, and it's certainly not the most mature thing to do, but I don't think it's a particularly horrific thing to do. It's just how things are now.
The most common response to anything that gets said online is, they're too scared to say it to someone's face. I don't really think that's the case at all. People vent things online, what they're feeling or thinking etc, and it's not because they're too scared to say to that person directly, I think it's mainly because doing so would cause more drama than it's worth. I personally don't say anything online that I wouldn't say to someone's face, but telling people directly every thought or feeling, really isn't appropriate.
I'm not saying it's the right thing to do, and I'm not encouraging people to start putting bitchy comments etc on facebook. But what I've come to see over the past two years is that, when someone does put a bitchy status or a comment the people that agree with the comment all like it and laugh along with what's been said, but then when the tables turn and what gets said is about them or their friends, it only then becomes immature and inappropriate. It's a 'you can give but can't take' situation.
Gossip runs riot around social groups now a days, and social networking sites have become a faster medium for gossip. In the heat of arguments people do come out and say things they don't mean or are a little extreme and they regret it, and it's the same with social networking sites, if someone's really pissed off or upset, they'll post a status or whatever saying the exact same thing, it's a source of venting how we feel. It isn't the best thing to do, but you have to admit it makes us feel better when we've said what we've had to say. I'd be massive hypocrite if I started judging the people who did this, because I'm certainly one of them. I just got to thinking why do we do it?
It's not the most appropriate thing to do no, but we all have feelings and we all have opinions and things we want to say, and with the internet being so accessible to us 24/7, it's just become a faster medium for saying 'what is on our mind'. How many people have seen the Facebook status box 'What's on your mind?' and just thought, well Facebook if you really want to know... or something to that extent? A lot of people I know have, and I've seen many status' which begin with that quote. Whether you say it on Facebook or to other people personally, it gets around a fair few people about what you've said etc. The only thing I don't agree with at all online is when people start naming and shaming people. I just personally feel that when you begin to name names, you are really just humiliating people.
So to really wrap up what I've said here, you can't really stop people from venting and expressing on social networking sites, because as I've said, everyone has done it. It's not a case of people are too scared to say to people's faces, it's just a case of doing so can cause more trouble than it's worth.
That's reason enough to say, well if you aren't going to say it to people's face, then don't say it at all, and I agree. But people always say things in the heat of the moment, no-one goes about life without saying anything inappropriate it's just human nature. Social networking can bring out the worst in people, and I don't think it's right, but it's something we all do, and it's just another medium for us to bitch etc on. I've just noticed that people are fine with it, and laugh along with it, until they're on the back end of it, and don't like what they see, because it's negative towards them.
I know everyone has different feelings on this, and I'd love to hear yours, either comment below or leave a message on my Facebook/Twitter (links above) or email me at Shaneyxcakes@gmail.com :)
Sometimes, bitchy comments are so obvious you might as well name and shame people. I know everyone does it, but when things are so obvious, it's not really fair, is it?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think you shouldn't do it, but I know I have fallen into the trap every now and again. I just don't agree with the people that do it all the time! It gets annoying and looks a little desperate for attention in my opinion.
No, you can't stop it but people should tone it down a little. It's healthier to vent emotions but sometimes the person that the bitchy comment is about deserves a little respect, so either say it to their face before telling the whole world, or don't say anything at all!
I totally agree, and this is what I was saying, but it's always going to be completely obvious what and who it's about to some people, because there are always those few who are involved or know about the situation, even if it is only private to them.
ReplyDeleteI don't see there being any over obvious comments like that because 90% of the people you're connected to online won't know what it's about. Sometimes it is just a general statement that everyone can relate to, but has a cause behind it to why people are saying it, but the same still applies, people that are aware of the situation will see it as obvious, because they know what's going on, but to 90% of people there won't have a clue.
I don't usually see it as it being desperate for attention when it comes to bitching, it is just a vent of emotions, the desperate attempts of getting attention is when people are doing the complete opposite, either moaning about how shit their life is, or trying to show off something or someone.
Sometimes people do need to tone it down a little, and I do agree with you, I just can't help but see the similarities between what gets said in the heat of the moment on social networking sites and what get's said in the heat of the moment in an argument or heated debate etc. Everyone occasionally is too quick to shout their mouth off, it's just fuelled by emotion.
But generally when people say something too harsh, or that they regret, they do tend to delete it, just like they'd turn round and say that they take what they said back, if they were talking to someone personally.
I just feel people's negative opinions on it are usually too strong considering they, like everyone else fall into the trap with it. :)
I Agree.
ReplyDeletePeople shouldn't post attention seeking stuff on status updates or whatever it may be. If it is intentionally aimed at one person i would say inbox them explaining how you feel, if they feel the same, and the problem can't be solved, fair enough, people hold grudges and shit gets stirred...
But i have myself just posted how i feel on my status and yeah, i have been like... Why did i post that, but what annoys me most is that friends that i talk to regularly never ask i'm ok or how i'm doing, which in a way, is a bit like, WTF. Because the online "friends" you think you have aren't all their cracked up to be when you actually need someone to talk to.
But if someone has a problem with another person, they should interact with that person directly, in my opinion. They don't need to get their name pasted all over the internet... Unless they like, killed your dog/relative ...
Yeah, there's always the argument between what's actually attention seeking and what is just 'wanting someone to talk to' when people post status about them being upset.
ReplyDeleteYou get people all the time just post status' saying ':(' or something, and that usually doesn't mean they are attention seeking, when it's the over the top 'OMG MY LIFE IS OVER, WTF DO I DO NOW :'(' and they post stuff like that all the time, you know they're just looking for attention.
But when you do post a slightly upset status, just to describe your mood, you do kinda expect people to say 'what's up?' because it's what people do when they see someone they know upset. It can be a little heart wrenching when every one of the 100's of people on your facebook or whatever completely ignore you! haha. But if the status wasn't to seek the attention of other people, it shouldn't matter too much.
No, I do agree people should try and talk it out. I'm not trying to tell people that online bitching is right or wrong. I'm just saying people are too quick to judge people on it, especially when it's something everyone does.
My personal experience if I post something about someone I do have a problem with, it is usually after an argument with them, and they know full well how I feel. I won't plaster their name over the internet, because I'm allowing EVERYONE to know who it's about and what they've done rather than the small percentage of people who will look at the status and instantly know.
It's not a nice thing to do, but why do people have a go at people so much when they do exactly the same thing? People need to practice what they preach if they are going to have such strong opinions on it.
Especially when they're going to kick off because what gets said isn't in their favour.