Other than the time spent here, I don’t spend time posting on social media. I do spend time observing, both the post of friends and family but also the reels and videos posted worldwide that find their way to my page.
I do see a lot of good – healthy, happy babies born into loving families; animals being cared for in sanctuaries and in rescue missions and foster homes; people helping those in need, whatever that need might be; efforts to raise money for and awareness of desparate situations around the world; people expressing love for one another and happiness and fulfillment in their relationship.
It’s all very heartwarming.
However….
On social media, I see just as much, if not more, examples of such extreme cruelty it seems as if these examples could not possibly be real. From what I see online and encounter whenever I step outside my door and venture into the world, I have come to believe that humans are the worst, most dangerous species on the planet.
Kittens, live kittens, shoved in boxes that are sealed tight with tape, left to die.
Dogs brutalized, with ears removed and tails cropped, to advertise fierceness and agression – to boost the owner’s street cred.
Cities and communites terrorized by governments intent only on gain – land, property, mineral rights, power, prestige – with no concern for the people they govern.
The sexualization of youth blamed on those who are deemed outside the norm when, in actuality, mainstream advertising, television, cinema and radio have, and still do, sell as much as possible with overt sexual content, condoning the trivialization of any sexual act (note I do NOT say love making or sensuality, both much too subtle for the constant brain-bashing we all receive) to a sales pitch. The oldest profession, right? It still sells, like gang busters.
The insistence that more is more and never enough – buy, buy, buy; acquire as much as possible no matter the cost – fill the void left by…..what?
Watching people, seemingly desperate for human contact, stare at their phones, communicating with whomever is ‘out there’ about nonsense while completely ignoring the people sitting at their own dinner tables.
Hearing about people spending hours and sometimes days playing games where the “human” attrition rate is astounding and wondering why people are able to kill dozens of people with guns, knives, trucks and bombs without completely understanding the damage they have caused to the world and to their own souls.
When people would rather video an event and post it than trying to diffuse a situation and behave with compassion, I believe they show they lack compassion and humanity.
When people would rather go ‘viral’ by posting images of ridiculous, immature and sociopathic behavior than react with humanity, kindness, dignity and consideration, I wonder how they would feel if they were the at the receiving end of the horrible behavior they condone by sharing it with others.
All of these instances make it clear that we are losing our selves, our humanity, our souls by letting ourselves be sucked into virtual realities, virtual communities, virtual relationships. Why are we so shocked that AI is looming in our futures? We opened the door willingly and extended an open invitation into our lives, our hearts and our thoughts.
Generally, I can’t say I like people much, at all.
When I do venture out into the world, I am struck by what I see. I am fascinated, perversely, by the behaviour I cannot in any way understand.
It is appalling to me that it seems as if there are many drivers who feel it is their right to harass, tailgate, speed around and completely ignore the laws of physics AND how they are taking others lives into their hands, all because they feel entitled to get ‘there’ faster. I feel it is our responsiblity and duty to drive safely to ensure, not only our own safety and that of our passengers, but the safety of all others on the road around us.
As a former teacher, I cannot for the life of me understand why parents feel no compunction in delegating to educators the entire job of teaching children morals and decency. As their legal guardian, parents have the authority and oblication to make decisions about their child’s protection, care, education, and disipline. It is not enough to provide a home and necessities; it is the duty of every parent, to the best of their ability, to nuture their children into compassionate, caring humans. Why have children if you are not going to raise them?
As a former teacher, I found it eyeopening and extremely dispppointing to realize that my chosen vocation had been reduced to teaching children to pass tests primarily to ensure their schools and communites would continue to receive funding. Through ten years of night school, I worked to exhaustion to earn a degree so that I could teach children mathematics to help them progress in their lives and chosen careers and job training. After only two years of teaching, I came to understand I would be required by my administration, school district and state to focus on producting results that would look good on paper rather than focusing on giving my students an education which will help them progress through their lives in whatever capacity suited them best. The result was a population of young people confused, frustrated and prone to emotional stress due to the lack of understanding in their subject matter and the lack of enforced discipline by the people charged with their care. In addtion, all children were forced to accept the notion that all should be college bound and those whose intelligence and capability are found outisde the realm of academia are somehow “less”.
How are we to expect people to ascend to maturity as adults if they are not guided well through their youth and accepted for who and what they are?
I am mytsified that with all of the conveniences we feel we must have, we spend less and less time on the things that matter the most: raising decent humans, sharing a smile, helping those in need, keeping the world a safe place for all, preserving and maintaining the incredible planet we have been given, seeing and working to improve our own faults before focusing on the faults of others and simply choosing LOVE for ALL over LOVE of SELF.
Generally speaking, I’m not a fan of people.
However, whenever I can, I talk to people I encounter all the time and am usually met with warmth, a smile, a brief and fun conversation before moving on with my day. I do see that, as individuals, people are generally wonderful and compasstionate beings. Not as great as dogs, but that’s another story.
Each person I’ve greeted and spoken to, regardless of whatever is going on in their lives, is happy to chat and share a smile. Wouldn’t it be great if those small, seemingly insignificant moments could expand exponentially and spread the vibe of shared humanity, shared experience, shared LOVE?
I have a small group of friends. We are, by no means, perfect. My worst flaw if that I do not suffer fools well and speak with frustration or anger and in haste occasionally. It’s always uneccesary, I always feel horrible after and my words and actions never stop a fool from being a fool. It just makes my bad behaviour the focus; never a good feeling. There are people in my family whose political beliefs I find questionable and with whom I completely disagree on many issues. I have friends who have made terrible decisions in their lives, affecting their families badly. However, all of the people I keep in my inner circle are
Kind Compassionate Caring Thoughtful Charitable with their time and talents Spritual and Dedicated to making the world a better place, each day.
So, SPECIFICALLY, for those I meet randomly and all those I love and hold dear, I LOVE people.
It does feel easier and may seem initially satisfying to react with anger and continue to fuel the fires of contempt and ‘otherness’ and to choose isolation over community. It does take a bit of effort to react with love and kindness and to dare to explore the ‘other’ and to trust the company of other people.
I’m finding that it’s well worth the leap of faith. It’s the only way for us to overcome so much of the trouble that pervades every aspect of our lives. It’s the only way to keep the demons at bay.
Light always overcomes darkness if each of us is willing to carry the torch of humanity.
sorrowful/empathetic/introvert 