#snickie's ranting

[snickiedoo]

I think it's hilarious that Tumblr and other apps keep showing me the Stories app where you pick from two responses to a scenario and almost every scenario they show in the ads are "my s.o. is cheating on me!!!! òwó" and while I would be very upset to find my future s.o. cheating on me, I am also amused by the fact that they clearly don't know their audience (me) and the extremely low likelihood of that kind of stuff getting me to partake in their escapist dramatic dribble. Because maintaining a relationship is infinitely less interesting than forming or destroying one.

Or maybe they see I'm not in a relationship and wouldn't I like to pretend I'm in one where my s.o. is cheating all the time or has a brat for a kid whom I have to win over or else Prince Charming will leave and my life is certifiably over? Ugh why would I want to deal with any of that. Why, if you're trying to sell me into a relationship, would you try to tell me they're like that? Why do you think I'd want to pretend all relationships are like that? You think my current (non-existent) relationship is boring? Or do you think I should think it's boring? 😃

[snickiedoo]

Down to 50% data today with a week left in the month. I know I'm guilty of using half of that but I wanted to see just how much data the other two lines on the plan were using and instead I found a week's worth of data on battery performance and one of the categories was screen timeout and in addition to telling me that my screen timeout timer is short (good for battery)

it also shows my screen usage.

In other words, exactly how long my phone screen has been lit up and I have probably been staring at it. These numbers include when I use GPS while driving or using YouTube as a music player, so there is a little leeway here, but not a lot.

But holy shit. I need to get a life on Fridays. And break up with my phone.

[snickiedoo]

If people knew how many posts I've drafted and not published because of being nonconfrontational and to facilitate image control, as well as the content of those posts, I'd probably: 1. Be a lot more interesting. 2. Have threats made against me because I have my own opinions, some of which differ from popular majority (or extremely vocal and influential minorities), especially on some controversial topics.

[snickiedoo]

I don’t understand all the fuss about how “transgender people should be able to use the restroom/water closet that corresponds with their gender”.

What?

It’s the restroom, people. The toilet has nothing to do with social anything. It has to do with biology. If you have male parts, you go to the restroom equipped to deal with male parts. Same if you have female parts. The restroom doesn’t care what you are in your head.

[snickiedoo]

What irks me is the near-constant stream of "1 Like = 1 Prayer" or "Like if Jesus is your Savior/Best Friend/whatever, Ignore if you worship the Devil".  It's like spiritual blackmail.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say, "Thou shalt likest and sharest every Facebook post that commandeth thee to likest and sharest it for My sake, or thou shalt be eternally punished."  However, Jesus did say, "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33 NIV)  Many Christians are caught in this dilemma because the posts or images make the claim that refusing to like/share those posts is the same as denying Jesus.  A lot are guilted into sharing it and creating annoying spam for the rest of us.

I get it.  We're supposed to share the good news with others.  But all these Facebook posts do is guilt or enrage people.  Honestly, I don't think God has a checklist of every one of these posts we've ever seen in our lives and how many we didn't like/share despite being able to.  Do you know why?  Because you can Like or Share anything and it doesn't have to mean anything.

Those posts that depict some dire situation -- someone in a third-world country needs quintuple bypass open heart surgery, or some children in Africa are starving.  The ones that say "1 Like = 1 Prayer. YOUR PRAYER WORKS."  Does it really?  How can a click turn into a Prayer?  If I like it, do I have to pray for them, and if I do, does it have to be only once?  If only 37,295 people like the post, do the makers of the post pray for them only 37,295 times?  Is my Like the only thing keeping me accountable to that prayer?  Will God forget if I don't Like it?

I have two arguments against this.  One: God has kept track of people's prayers with perfect accuracy without Facebook.  What does Facebook (or any other social media) have to do with it now?  Yes, it brings awareness to issues and sometimes funding.  And a lot of people like to claim that it gives them hope because so many people "support" them.  But, from a practical standpoint, begging for Likes is pointless.  Which brings me to my second argument for which I shall quote from James.

"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" (James 2:15-16 NIV)   (I actually like the Message (MSG) wording of it better, but for sake of space and your attention span, I won't include it here.)

If you really care about those people, then contribute if/what you can.  To those people who tell others, "I'll be praying for you," when they complain nonstop about their woes, sit down with them and actually pray with them if you mean it.  Otherwise, it's all pointless.

This is the problem I have with those Facebook posts.  It creates the illusion of helping when actually they don't do squat.

(Disclaimer: I have nothing against the posts that have a legitimate concern and offer a legitimate way to help those people.  The ones I'm complaining about don't.)

(Disclaimer to the disclaimer: Prayer is not illegitimate.  Fake prayer is illegitimate.)

[snickiedoo]

It just occurred to me today that a lot of people who are "in love" with each other (like high school romance kind of "love") often talk to each other the same way I talk to my cats.

I've known how to be affectionate and complimentary and to do the cutesy banter thing this whole time.  What stopped me was my thinking that pets and boyfriends were supposed to be different.

WHAT EVEN.

[snickiedoo]

Caring about people is hard and tiring.

Forcing myself to not care about people that I already care about is one of the most difficult and energy-depleting things I've ever tried.

[snickiedoo]

People who live out their relationships publicly on social networking sites irritate me.

Okay, someone said something clever or unique and you want to share a screenshot of that with the world.  It's clever/unique.  I can handle that.  Like the two band geeks who kept texting each other solfege of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Marche Slave amongst other pieces.  That was creative.  You don't see that every day.

And if you want to announce your engagement on Facebook, that's nice too.  Congratulations.  Have a happy marriage.

But the cutesy stuff.  "hey there ur sucha cutee (((:"  "babe i luv u so much"  "omg i have lyk da best bf/gf in da whole world!!!!"  (Okay, not all of them use chatspeak and endless smiley faces, but it's much more annoying when they do.)  It doesn't seem serious.  And the only reason I see to post that kind of stuff to social networking (as opposed to, I don't know, telling them in person (or at least texting them directly if being face-to-face is impossible at that particular moment for whatever reason)) is to make potential exes jealous.  It's like a show.  And I feel like it ultimately serves to ruin that special intimacy that is supposed to exist privately between dating couples (no, I do not mean sex; that is another matter entirely).

This is also why I don't like public displays of affection in areas with lots of people, especially crowded areas.  Hugs?  Sure.  A quick peck on the lips even?  Fine.  Do your making out and long, more emotional hugs somewhere a little more private, please, like on a park bench or in a dark movie theater.  I don't want to see people sucking face any more than I want people watching me suck face.  And I don't want to have to push past two people trapped in a long embrace any more than I would want to be pushed past while trying to enjoy a long embrace.  Don't get me wrong; I love long embraces, and the one time I made out with someone I enjoyed it even though I had no idea what I was doing.

Back to social network flirtation.  You can be happy in your relationship.  You can have your cutesy flirting threads.  You can tell the world how happy you are with "ur babuu".  I don't care.  I can't infringe upon your right to make out in public or post cutesy stuff on Facebook.  But don't do it just to put on a show.