Is it just me, or is everyone angry about something? I’m not
talking about being slightly offended by everything. I’m talking about
full-blown, almost manic, anger. Obviously, United States politics is the most
common source of this universal fury, but it also exists on less serious
platforms.
Take blogging, for instance. Recently, I’ve read numerous opinion
pieces on dress codes and the costs of back to school supply lists. Some of
these posts generated some doozies in the comments sections. And in turn, those
comments elicited snarky comebacks by those in support of the author, branding
the “trolls” for having a difference in opinion. The comments sections of these
blogs have almost become a fun sort of entertainment for onlookers…except…it’s
not.
As I sit here angrily writing a blog post about anger, I have to
grudgingly admit that anger seems to have us all by the balls. As a society, we
are using it as a platform for hate, rather than a platform for action. There
have been plenty of protests, yet little to no progress. So I have to ask-is
anger enough?
Now, don’t get me wrong. I completely understand where you all are
coming from when you boldly shout (in all caps), “IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS” or “WE NEED TO SHOW OUR CHILDREN THAT THEY CAN CHALLENGE WHAT
THEY DON’T AGREE WITH” or “WE SHOULD ALL BE ANGRY AT THE STATE OF THE WORLD”!
YES! We all should be angry at the state of the world! YES! We do
need to show our children that they can challenge what they don’t agree with!
YES! We should be having tough conversations! But unfortunately, we’re not. As
a blogger, I know that writing a blog or an opinion piece is usually just a
form of preaching to the choir, as many of my readers feel the same way as I
do. And, as previously explained, those who feel “attacked” by a blog go into
“troll” mode. And these online “conversations” are really just one side arguing
with the other about why their idea of what is right needs to be heard louder
(and also, why the other person with the differing opinion is a dickhead). But
even if the well-intended post, comments included, gets shared a thousand
times, by next week, it will be forgotten. And guess what? Nothing changes.
The same thing goes for writing your opinion as your Facebook
status and hoping others will “like” it, or changing your profile picture to
support a various hot topic, or sharing a news article about our government, or
signing an online petition. It’s important to acknowledge that social media
does allow people to stay informed, but it also invites laziness into our lives
by allowing us to read, feel something, comment, and then quickly move on to
something else, like that hysterical meme that needs to be shared.
I’m not trying to pretend that I am not guilty of this and that I
have the answers. I don’t. But I think the instant gratification movement is
limiting our potential to act, at least in a civil manner. We are letting anger
strangle us. And I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of it. I am tired of
being a mom raising two young girls who will eventually feel all of the
negativity that social media or media in general is seducing us with. I’m tired
of this anger being catapulted into our news stories and fueled further by our
government, causing a further divide among the people of this country. I am
tired of seeing comments on social media that begin with, “you’re an asshole if
you believe xyz”. I’m tired of the lack of these “conversations” that we all
seem to agree that we should be having. I am tired of seeing comfortable
resolutions like protests and online petitions, on repeat. These things aren’t
working. And like all of you, I don’t see a clear way forward through this
haze.
But I’m willing to try.
I’m willing to throw out everything I know and start fresh. I’m
willing to start communicating on new platforms so that I can start actually
progressing, instead of just having a “conversation” about progressing. I am
willing to stop relying on old methods for new results. I’m willing to put
anger into my vice grip and squeeze back. Not to produce more anger, but to
deflate it.
Now the only question left is-who’s with me?
*This piece was published on BLUNTmoms on August 26, 2017.
