The Internet is a fickle place. Last week I saw multiple tweets and status updates from people who thought the war between Diane and Elan was hysterical.
A few days passed and the tide turned into posts about how bullying, sexism and how horrible Elan was. Some of those were written by people who had actively promoted the original thread as being really funny,
More than a few of Elan’s detractors have said that Diane was entitled to slap him. I wonder how many would have felt the same way if the situation had been reversed and he had slapped her because of something she said or wrote about him.
I appreciated the story and shared it. It was over the top and I wasn’t sure if it was real or not.
Why I Question Things
I have written some pretty goofy stories and they haven’t all been true. If you are short on time you can bookmark 69 Reasons Why Fathers Make Better Lovers and we can talk later.
Or alternatively you can look at these:
“The clown was drunk, surly and horny. Or should I say that he was in dire need of shagging Tinkerbell. Ok, her name wasn’t really Tinkerbell but the performers at a kids birthday party don’t introduce themselves by their real names so you’ll forgive me if I can’t tell you whether she was Karen, Kathy, Tracey, Lacey or Stacey. “ The Flying Clown
“A bear hug is no match for an angry man with a salami. For I took said salami and proceeded to beat him silly with it. Fortunately I was smart enough not to hit the two cops who came ostensibly to break up the fight.† It Wasn’t Worth Getting Arrested
“Most people consider it bad form to slap a priest or pull a rabbi’s beard. They aren’t real keen on your telling Sister Mary that she has a rack that was made for sin and or suggesting that you can help her see god.† 567 Ways To Tell A Better Story
Confession: there is more fiction than truth there. I like ridiculous stories and enjoy writing them. I am also guilty of not always telling you when I am pressing your button and pulling your leg.
Not going to apologize for it either. I am the guy who wrote about beating up Santa Claus. It is and was a popular post. People like quirky and I like writing ridiculous stories in large part because I am consistently amused by how people believe whatever they read on the Internet.
It is also why I sometimes question the goofy stories I read online. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out they are real or that they are made up.
Fact Checking and Courtesy
The Elan versus Diane story caught my eye for a bunch of reasons. I was surprised by how many people didn’t question whether this really happened or not but maybe I shouldn’t be.
Some very intelligent people I know believe almost anything…on the Internet.
And it caught my eye because I am fed up with self entitled people who think that it is ok to treat other people poorly because they are having a bad day.
Mind you I’ll be the first to say I have been guilty of acting like a jerk and or doing things I shouldn’t do. I am not a saint nor anything close to perfect but I tend to be pretty damn good about not treating those who serve the public like lesser beings.
I hate seeing wait staff mistreated by customers. Don’t like watching flight attendants get screamed at for things outside of their control and cringe when people yell at the checker because they had to wait longer than they wanted to.
What Is Important
It took a long while for me to fall asleep after I wrote Should We Believe In Miracles? Children with terminal illnesses and their families are much more important than the ridiculous fluff I mentioned above, my own stuff included.
I lay in bed and thought for a long while about Sam and his family and silently apologized for being relieved/thankful that my family is healthy.
It is not something I ask for at the expense of others.
The Internet is a fickle place and sometimes so is life. I don’t know about you, but I am just doing my best to try to be present now and to live the kind of life that fills my heart, makes me happy and gives my kids the best future I can provide.
Make of that what you will.
P.S. I still want to kill the Elf On The Shelf.
ReallyGina1Â Drives me crazy. I am cranky guy and sometimes impatient but unless the person is being a complete ass and or endangering lives I rarely raise my voice.
Most of the time is more effective to ask them to change their behavior or “help” than to yell. I won’t tolerate it from the people I am with and I agree about the phone.
The person on the phone inline kills me too. I try not to talk if I am checking out because no one else cares or needs to hear my conversation and the person who is helping me deserves some respect.
That slap is a different conversation entirely, but I have never understood why some women think it is ok to hit a man.
zoebyrd2Â That elf just makes m nervous, Chucky comes to mind. Sam is a cool kid.
When I read the whole Élan and Diane thing, I wondered if it was true. I’ve seen people go ballistic on other people even though the issue was out of that person’s control. It makes me very uncomfortable. And I hate it when people treat waitstaff like crap. I will say something if I’m with the person doing it. I also can’t stand when someone is on their phone through an entire check out line and doesn’t even acknowledge the checker or bagger, postal clerk, whatever. It’s rude. I can’t stand rude people. I guess this post struck a nervous. As for the slap, I wouldn’t do it and, you’re correct that it wouldn’t be tolerated going the other way.
Sam is a superhero!
that Elf on the Shelf is one creepy little dude. But Superman Sam now there is one cool kid and his family is pretty cool too.