Let's be honest. There's almost no way around it anymore. In this day and age, we are basically forced to take part in social media in order to keep up with our ever so "advanced" society. However, if we take a closer look at the big picture, our society has become reliant on a keyboard and dependent on the camouflage of a social media profile. We get all of our information through some form of media and we have become incapable of recognizing a credible source when we see one.
We have a generation of clueless, lackadaisical "gimme, gimme, gimme" gang of headline readers instead of article readers. We stop at the first line because we're not interested in facts or stories, we're interested in empty promises and unsupported statistics. Nobody wants to face the facts and realize that our society has gone to sh-t. Yes, you heard me correctly. Sugar Honey Iced Tea. All because we spend six to eight hours a day developing digital eye strain just to catch a glimpse of the lives of people we don't really care about.
That's the problem with social media. It captures moments, not the full story. We no longer have control over our own lives because so many people will believe what they see on social media rather than what actually happens in real life. Access to information has done nothing but create a world of angry, offended, and tasteless characters.
The world may be big and scary, and there may be threats out there like terrorism and fascism, but I don't think we realize how threatening the internet is. At this rate, cyberspace should be feared just as much, if not more, than nuclear weapons. While that is a loaded statement, I do believe the internet itself is a nuclear weapon; capable of mass destruction with a single click or press of the 'Enter' button. It is capable of destroying relationships, reputations, and the purity of young, innocent minds.
There's no warning that tells you the internet is full of uneducated, arrogant, and unorthodox cowards hiding behind screens. If you're not prepared for the absolute lunacy of the internet, don't bother opening that browser. No one cares about your feelings. No one cares about your opinions. No one is going to hold your hand while you grow a damn backbone. We live in a country where people get offended by sidewalk chalk writings, bumper stickers, and sarcastic humor.
This is America. If you can't stand the heat, get the f-ck out the kitchen. We're a country built on freedom. That includes the freedom of religion, press, and expression, and the freedom to tell you crybaby, featherweight, daisies to grow some damn balls. I'm so tired of seeing people get offended over things that have absolutely no application towards their lives. This is what America has become.
Let's face it, America is no longer the greatest country on Earth. In fact, according to the Index of Ignorance, when it comes to the most ignorant countries on Earth, America ranks second next to Italy, who is first. While I am not surprised by that at all, it's discouraging to know that so many Americans are blind to pure facts and susceptible to the nescience they witness via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
People look for reasons to get angry. They search for things that they can fight about. And it's not like they're fighting for a good cause. They're fighting because they believe their opinions dominate others' opinions or because they literally have nothing better to do with their lives than sit in Mom's basement, eating hot Cheetos, bullying an 18-year-old because she contoured her damn face. Once again, nobody cares about your opinion. That is why it is yours. Just because someone doesn't agree with your opinion or doesn't abide by it, does not mean your opinion is more prevalent or that you should force your beliefs on them. Likewise, this article is my opinion and I could literally care less whether you agree with me or not. Which brings me to a short story...
I read a quote the other day by Goi Nasu that got me thinking. It said, “An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you.” You can only be affected by what you allow to affect you. You only believe what you want to believe. Are you really going to let people hiding behind a screen dictate how you live your life? Hell no.
Our generation is irresponsible, naïve and an embarrassment to those of us who give a damn about the world we're going to raise our future children in. We've rewired our brains to live through technology. We date through technology, learn through technology, and communicate through technology. While the internet was a huge step towards the future, it has only diminished our ability to lead private lives without receiving a like, comment, or share. Likes, comments, and shares we allow to control our attitudes and egos.
Now I am no better than the rest of our society by using my writing platform as a means to communicate my opinion. I may sound like a hypocrite. So, if you're really concerned whether or not I'm hiding behind a screen or if this is actually how I feel... come find me down in Louisiana. I'll be sitting in a lawn chair with a cold beer, not giving a damn about what the internet has to say.
Written in dedication to the one that will be a somebody in regards to the present and future nobodies hiding behind the screen.
