Idiots.

As I get older, I notice that I am actually taking the time to look past the surface reasonings for most situations and looking at things from an outside perspective. Although I may be wrong to some... I do my best to understand things in ways that are settling to me. That doesn't make me right over all, it makes me right to me. My opinions in no way trump anyone else's.... unless they disagree (jk)

Ok, I'm noticing more and more of something that continues to occur daily that no one has seemed to bring up..... generic facebook status's. If you don't have facebook or don't know what I mean, I'll briefly explain. People post "status" updates on their profile that everyone, that is a friend of theirs, sees in the "news" portion of their page. Called the "wall". Everyone that posts, and the replies/comments to those posts shows on their friends main "wall" page. Thats a fairly quick and elementary interpretation.... but that is the basics.

I have noticed more and more these "chain letter" style posts on facebook. A basic copy and paste to your personal page of something that someone else had on their page. Most are concerning a cause, generalized thought, or situation that may effect/be known by the majority. The reason I called it a "chain letter" is.... because it has the same make up, pretty much, as the old chain letters that some may remember. "I'll send you this, and you send it to all of your friends, then they send it to all of their friends..... boy, won't that be keen?!?!" The two main differences between the chain letters and facebook posts are:

1. All chain letters offered a "reward" for re-sending their emails/letters to your contacts and friends. Eg: A life full of happiness, love, wealth.... that's some of the promises. Their was always a promise of gain by taking part in their little process.

2. Most facebook "copy and paste" messages don't have some sort of award for re-posting it on your page. Instead, for the most part, are copied and pasted by the people that think or feel the same way as the original poster, have had similar situations, or feel for the person. Most Facebook copy and paste posts are relatively sincere in nature.

That last line I do mean......In general. The face book copy/paste messages do have something to say about a real or serious situation or cause. Cancer, abuse, children, job wage problems, politics... the list goes on.

Here's my problem with those.... what the fuck are you doing about it?? Do you truly believe that posting someone else's writing regarding some sort of cause or situation makes you somehow a "help"? Don't hand me that "awareness is golden" bullshit either. Do you think making a copy/paste about breast cancer during breast cancer awareness month makes you part of the solution? Are you going to post the same thing next month too when it's not a publicized "cause"? Or are you going to forget like the majority of us and do nothing about it realistically.

You lost someone to breast cancer? I'm sorry. You know someone who lost someone to breast cancer? I'm still sorry. You hope that science comes up with a solution to breast cancer to help save lives..... well, thats very noble of you.... it's nice to know that you show your care, concern, and support on some Internet site by pasting someone else's words.

What the fuck are you accomplishing? Are you really going to use the line "I support (cause) because I copied and pasted something someone else said on facebook? Why don't you take even the 10 seconds you wasted on your copy/paste and maybe lift a real finger to help. Ya... not everyone can financially support causes. I get that. Not everyone has a major in a science discipline that can assist in medical cures. Not everyone works in a field that can put people away that do bad things to good people. I know.... I know. But posting = support? Let those causes go to the bank and try and deposit your "post". Have some scientist work 16 hours a day to help save people from an incurable disease tell the FDA that although they still have yet to find a cure, they can be reassured that it will be a matter of time... since they read your status on facebook, and have your support.

I see 99% of these posts an arrogant deception of "look at me, I support this so I'm a good person. Bullshit. How many people out there are supporting cancer... from the other side? None? How many people support the abuse of woman and children? Maybe the people who are doing it.... and thats all. So, you feel that posting on your little profile that you support a cure for something, or an end to something humanitarianly wrong, or about some earthquake/flood/natural disaster in some country, or that some job position is under paid/under appreciated.... shows you are a good person? You aren't "supporting" anything except your own ego. "XXX amount of people lost their lives in a tragic event, please copy and paste this to your status to show your support". THEIR DEAD!!! THEY CAN"T READ IT!!! Or, if they happened to survive, they may be a little busy dealing with their situation to log into facebook and read your post... considering you probably don't have anyone effected on your list anyway.... and maybe they have more important things to attend to? Fuckballs.

I'll make this as easy to understand as I can...

PASTING SOMEONE ELSE'S POST ON TO YOUR PAGE ABOUT ANYTHING DOES NOT MAKE YOU PART OF THE SOLUTION..... DIPSHIT.

If you find these things true problems... the get off your ass and do something besides feed your personal ego by trying to play the "I posted, thus I care" bullshit role.










"is sick of people copying and pasting posts from others about causes that they, themselves, haven't or wont even lift a fucking finger to help or be apart of. Quit being a selfish prick and do something. Assbags.

Copy and past this if you hate people that copy and paste things that they are 'too busy' to actually take the time out of their busy life to help solve. If your not part of the solution, you are part of the problem...... posting on facebook does not make you part of the solution."

1 person likes this

Think about it this way: it's a quick and easy way to see who you should delete from your friends list.

In a more serious note (although above was rather serious), I'm pretty sure, and no offense, it's a very specific demographic that does this: older people who are not acquainted with computers and chain emails and such, and silly inmature girls. At least that's what I see in my feed.

Unfortunately for you I'm pretty sure, given your age, many of your acquaintances would fall in the former. It's an internet culture issue from people who don't quite understand it.

I don't have anyone besides family, under 18, on my list.... but I wouldn't consider my age "older people". Although my generation may predate the computer, we were actually the ones of age that got to see them grow and progress. A generation above mine may fit that profile better. But, even at that... the chain letter, and maybe you are either too young to remember or it didn't happen in your region, started actually via "mail". Not email, mail. You would get a letter saying "send $1 to everyone you can with a SASE and they will each send you a dollar back, as will their friends... making your investment of $x, huge!!". Granted, this is all a bit off topic. More of a "this is how stupid some Americans can be... and it's continued to facebook" type of thing.

I completely agree with you on this one tad BUT I did hear that one of the first breast cancer awareness posts actually made the paper and I think someone donated for it or something.. but for them to keep doing it isn't going to raise more money or awareness.. maybe once but not several of times.

Well at least this new brand of "chain mail" is about an actual cause rather than "Post this to your wall and you will be kissed my the boy/girl of your dreams at midnight tonight" I mean, if you want to be a "glass half-full" kind of guy, you could say this might be an actual improvement in our shallow, self-absorbed society.

Btw, I remember people doing this with e-mails but not snail-mail.

I agree Clip, and I made sure to make clear I'm not "knocking the cause". Most are very sincere posts.... by the original writer. My point is copying and pasting someone else words just because you are or have been in the same type of situation, or know someone that is effected by what they are posting about.....solves nothing.

Re-posting a missing child's picture, THAT is understandable. Re-posting a news article. Understandable. But "repost this if you are in favor of fighting XXX disease".... well, that's not supporting a cause. That does absolutely nothing. People seem to be using their power of copy and paste to make them selves feel like that are making some sort of impact or are actually helping in some way. They arnt. Heres 2 examples (I made up) of what I mean.

"Many people are dying every day from XXXX. It's sad to see this happening and we need to find a cure. Post this on your status if you support the cause of curing XXXX"

Huh? Your post does and means nothing. It also wont solve what ever situation you are posting about. It's a "feel good", selfish, post to make yourself feel part of the solution... when your not actually lifting a finger to do shit.

"Come join me in a walk/run for XXXX. It will be X day at X time. Show your suport for the cure to XXXX by spreading the word about this event on your status if you are going to attend".

THAT does something. That shows you are doing your part to fight for the cause.

Number 2 is commendable. Number 1 is just plain ignorant.... but is the most likely post you will see.