Last week a friend wrote a note on facebook. He was inspired to write it because of a promotional giveaway on a food item. The item they were giving away wasn’t anything expensive. Apparently there was a problem. Maybe too many people at one time trying to get the coupon or something. But when he went back to their facebook page the next day there were a bunch of ugly comments. Like “I’m never buying your product again.” and so on and so forth. I think the same thing happened to Kentucky Fried Chicken a while back when they tried to give away something that you had to down load a coupon for. Just like people complaining when a restaurant is giving away free pancakes or what ever between certain hours. They complain because they couldn’t get in, because it was too crowded. I don’t know about anybody else, but I would rather pay full price for my food and eat it in the peace and quiet without a clamoring crowd outside with their noses pressed to the window trying to get in.
If you’ve read any articles or stories on the internet lately, you see where people can comment at the bottom of the page. Oh Lordy!! What a can of worms they have opened!!! I read them for entertainment. But if I stop and take them seriously, its really kind of scary. Is this the way people really think, but they hide it out in public because they know it would be frowned upon.
I think we live in a world where ours words have become desensitized because of the ability to post our thoughts to threads on the internet anonymously or under a false name. Its odd how people feel the need to post their thoughts to an article. Sometimes the comment has nothing to do with the article. I have read hateful, spiteful, racist, bigoted, right wing and left wing garbage amongst other stuff. Then you’ll have one commenter jumping all over someone else’s comment. Just crazy stuff. Some don’t even care if they aren’t anonymous, I’ve seen rude Facebook post as well.
I think this ability has made the whole population rude and nasty for the most part. Its like the internet has taken away our ability to be courteous and kind. How many times do we run into a convenience store or wherever and never make eye contact or smile at someone. Its like they don’t even exist. Maybe I’m weird, but I’ve always looked at passing cars and thought about them arriving at their homes, having dinner, and maybe watching some tv.
I guess what I’m trying to say is we are all in this together. Whether we know the person personally or not, let’s try not to be so rude and ugly to each other. Everyone is just trying to survive and carve out some kind of life for themselves. We don’t have to agree on everything, that’s what makes us human. But we can agree to disagree and happily go on our way. There’s no need for ugliness.
So I would suggest you do what I’ve been trying to do the last couple of weeks. When you enter a place, slow down, make eye contact and smile. What’s the hurry? You don’t have to have a conversation, just let people know you see them and you appreciate them.