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photo source myfacewhen.net
I am “overly sensitive”, and proud of it! Yup, you read that right, not only do I admit to being “overly sensitive”, but I am proud of it. Why? Because I have come to accept it as who I am.
Over the last year or so I have noticed some VERY mean spirited facebook pages pop up with one intent, and one intent only; they strive to bring humor to some by means of putting others down. I am sure most of you know what type of pages I am talking about and I would imagine many of you have seen them and I can guarantee some of those reading this blog are part of those pages. While it is in fact all fun and games, fun and games end when someone gets hurt. And regardless of what any of us thinks some people are more sensitive than others. And if you are like me, you are overly sensitive.
Being overly sensitive means criticism isn’t taken as easily. Being overly sensitive means I worry about what people think of me. Being overly sensitive means I have a wide range of emotions. Being overly sensitive, it’s not a choice, it’s a state of being.
In no way can I help who I am. All I can do is try to understand myself better to be sure who I am does not negatively effect others. But sometimes it does.
I honestly can not for the life of me understand why people even frequent these negative pages let alone post on them. And goodness, why would someone even create one? I find it funny that the people who “run” these pages often make fun of people for being on the computer all the time yet somehow manage to update their page dozens of times per day. I mean really, what do they think, do they think that Comedy Central or Dave Chappelle are going to catch wind of their abusive jokes and give them a shot at making a living by making fun of other people?
Some people have referred to the disgustingly negative pages as pages that promote cyber bullying. While I am not familiar enough with the law to make that accusation, I do know that posting pics of an individual or calling them out in public with the only intent as to put them down, those things can cause people harm. We found that out first hand when ex Rutgers college student Dharun Ravi was convicted in a case where his exploitation of another student led to the suicide of that student.
Now some may say that the case I just mentioned is totally not the same thing, but what happens if someone who is completely and totally worn thin takes their own life after being subjected to harrassment via these God-awful facebook pages? Afterall, specifically targeting people who are overly sensitive or slandering them by posting pictures that paint them in a negative light, who knows what effect it will have on them.
It is my opinion that those people who are running these pages, they are absolutely nothing but bullies who hide behind a computer themselves. Seriously, instead of taking pictures of someone at the store in secret, grow a pair and ask the person if it’s OK. Instead of regularly sharing your opinion via a facebook page on how dependent someone is on their spouse, show up at your next Garrison meeting and let the whole world know your true identity and how much it disgusts you. I think something that is overlooked is the fact that should these mean people who run these pages ever publicly say who they are, we all know that career advancement for their own spouse may be hindered.
When I think of these folks who are running these pages, I can’t help but to feel sorry for them, to be honest. Why? Because it shows their character. It shows they have nothing positive to add to this world. It shows that their children are going to grow up to be just like them. And at some point, the shoe will be on the other foot. At some point, karma is going to come around and bite these people in the ass. I only wish I could be there to see it.
Now if you are one of those who follow these pages, I want to ask you to reconsider. I know many of my personal facebook friends follow these pages, and honestly, it does make me think less of them. I seriously doubt anyone would publicly say the things they say on the internet. Who out of all those page admins will walk up to one of us on the street and put us down? I know one of the more popular page admins of these terrible pages lives here at Ft Riley, so I would invite her to get out from behind her computer and show up at the next network meeting for the installation on July 12 and share with all of us about this awesome page she created. I am sure our Garrison Commander and all of the other department heads would LOVE to hear about this resource. Afterall, does she have anything to be ashamed of?
Putting someone down for being “overly sensitive” is like making fun of someone with a stutter. Taking a picture and posting it online in order to make fun of someone else, well, I would guess that your crap has a bit of an odor to it as well.
A while back I wrote a blog that goes hand in hand with this one. It was titled “Don’t Feed The Beast”. I would encourage you to go check it out by clicking here. I am sure I will get torn apart for writing this blog and become the next target, but what the heck…. I know where I stand with those who matter. And I am proud to be “overly sensitive” and outspoken.
Two last things…..
1) For those of us who are disgusted by these pages, just remember, you can’t fix stupid.
2) I may be “overly sensitive”, but I would gladly choose that instead of being like those who run these pages who are just downright insensitive (add expletive here).
Amen Wayne.
Well said!
Very well put! There are some terrible people out there that get their satisfaction from hurting as many people in a day that they can. SMH
Very cool! I’ve unfollowed/unliked quite a few pages that spewed disgust amd
(darn phone!) And* hatred at the expense of another person or belief. I DO appreciate the pages that are just plain humor or inspiration. Sometimes I need the inspiration… And hey, I’m not gonna lie- I have no problem calling out a rude person on one of those Pages.
right on!
I got to “being overly sensitive isn’t a choice” and about threw up. That’s not true, at all. You can choose to be offended or not, you can choose to take things personally or to shrug them off and laugh along with others, and you can choose whether or not you’re the type of person to fall apart at a mean glance. You can. You may choose not to acknowledge that fact, but you can. Most people I know who are so overly sensitive are that way because they get attention and sympathy for it. But it’s definitely a choice. But the number one choice you have that you should take advantage of? If you don’t like the content posted on a page, you don’t go reading into it and looking for all the awful aspects of it to throw a fit about. Everyone is different, everyone has different morals, values, beliefs, ways of life, ways of acting, dressing, and sense of humor. It’s okay that you’re sensitive just like it’s okay that some are not. Everyone who talks about how the people on those pages are so horrible and rude and wrong- you’re JUST as wrong. You can share your opinion of others’ actions, but they can’t share their views? Yeah right! There are so many blogs about these pages, it’s unbelievable how dense and stuck up you all are. Take a look in the mirror, get off your high horses, and stop judging how others judge. Everyone does it. Quit whining about it, or if you do, at least make it funny so others will be entertained. That’s something those pages have going for them that you don’t. Common sense.
Can you choose to have depression? Can you choose any other emotional being? There is a difference between being overly sensitive as in who you are and how you react.
I don’t much expect you to understand this of you are insensitive to how people feel and react to situations.
As human beings we have the will to either build people up or tear them down. Sometimes ”suck it up buttercup” is fitting, but it can only be received by an individual who gives another permission to speak into their life.
I personally don’t frequent those pages, but when it effects people I care about, I will speak up.
I would assume if people had access to your picturea they could certainly tear you down as well. Someone could snap a picture of you at a less than desireable moment and add a caption that turns it into something negative and degrading as well as embarrassing.
We all have the choice as to how we approach life. Some like pick on people wbo are less fortunate, I happen to be one who sticks up for those people. Because the best way to put a bully in their place, is to stand up to them. Unfortunately these people who have these facebook pages hide behind the safety of a computer. Which goes back to the saying ”if you wouldn’t say it to someones face, you probably shouldn’t say it”.
Hiding behind the internet is worse than someone getting ”beer brave”.
Yes, you can choose to have depression, and any other emotion! Just as you can choose NOT to. There is a difference between a feeling and a reaction, yes. But you can control both. Emotion is all based on perception, which we control. Which is exactly why this whole “cyber bullying” claim is assinine. As an adult we should be beyond this petty “she hurt my feelings over the internet” crap. People have accessed my pictures and added negative captions, pointed out my phsyical flaws, laughed, and attempted to tear me down. Here’s the kicker, attempted. I didn’t cry “bully” simply because someone said something that wasn’t sugary sweet about me. We choose whether or not we give someone else the power to have an affect with what they say. I can give you my word, I’ve never cared in the slightest what a complete stranger has said about me, my looks, my clothing, my actions, online posts, anything. Because it’s stupid to! If these people on these pages you’re referring to are so below you, then why give their opinions the time of day? Because these people claiming they’ve been bullied get attention that way.
I can’t speak for everyone but I speak my mind and stand up for what I think is right and what I think is complete and total bullshit, whether it’s online or in person. I know lots of others that do. If I think a military wife is acting like a selfish entitled pig, I’ll say it (in so many words) to her face. And if someone wants to share their opinion of me as well I openly invite them to! Freedom of speech- hooray! Hiding behind a computer has nothing to do with these pages, the fact that we’re a social media based generation has everything to do with it.
As you said, we all have a choice on how we approach life. That includes how we approach others’ words or opinions.
You’re (including everyone else who posts similar things, and the commentors) telling these pages they’re wrong for saying what they say, and they shouldn’t make these pages for expressing themselves? Well I know some people who think you shouldn’t post whiney blogs about how someone hurt your feelers like a little school boy, so take this down. I have the option of just not reading it, but instead I’m going to rant and bitch and complain about how I disagree. It’s about your negative views of certain groups of people, and that’s bullying as much as theirs is. You should take it down.
Normally, I try to not get involved in what people say thats rude. Honestly cause its not my fight and what I say just makes the situation worse. BUT…Samantha. To say you choose to have feelings isn’t true. Sure you try to brush off what people say but that doesn’t mean its not going to affect you. Choosing to have depression? Really? That right there is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. I can tell you right now that I did not choose to have depression and before you start saying yes you did its your own fault you cry blah blah blah. My depression is based on my hormones. I can’t control my hormones anymore then I can control the color of the sky. I am so surprised that as a female and somehow connected to the military that you are so heartless and cold. I’m sure something has happened to you at some point that has made you this way. You acting like you know more then everyone, are better then everyone and can do no wrong is a protective shield you’ve built around yourself. I refuse to believe someone is that mean of a person. People who make no difference in my life can’t hurt my feelings or make me sad because I don’t care enough. Things that affect me on an every day basis(connections to the military, friends, family, anything to do with my child) affects me in ways I can’t describe because they are things that are important in my life. As far as the cyber bullying thing goes yes as an adult we should know better then to take something small minded people say personally. You are being a perfect example of this. The way you just attacked Wayne shows that you have no regard for anyone else and have no problem breaking people down. Wayne, she is someone you shouldn’t have responded to because she will go through her day making as many people as miserable as possible and go home proud of her day. These are the people that I tell my daughter to ignore because they are so unhappy in their own lives that they have to find some way to make themselves feel bigger. This is how they choose to do it…by getting on the internet and saying things that would never be said in person. My daughter is 11 and she gets it. I have no idea how old you are Samantha but I would bet that you are old enough to know better and just mean enough to not care.
SO all that being said….Wayne, there is nothing wrong with taking things to heart. It shows you have one. The fact that you are attune to how others feel shows that you are a loving person and want nothing more then to have others around you happy. True, being this way takes a lot out of you a person emotionally, but the world needs more people like you. We need less people that want to make fun of others and more people who will give us a few words of encouragement.
First of all, *golf clap* for Shawna for taking the time out of your day to stop by and give me your oh so valued point of view of me and what kind of person I am based on a few sentences. Next time you feel the need to play moral police, you MAY want to consider watching how you tell someone they act like they know more than everyone, are better than everyone, and can do no wrong, and then proceed to tell them exactly what kind of person they are and what they do based on a few sentences. Please, sweetie, take a deep breath, calm down, and don’t get so worked up over a complete stranger on the internet.
Second, here is where this tricky thing called reading comprehension comes into play. Your whole little story about your depression and your feelings (which no one asked to hear) has nothing to do with anything I said and frankly you sound pretty self centered. I said you CAN choose to have depression, and other emotions, just as you can choose to be sensitive. You being a hormonal sobbing snotfest doesn’t surprise me, and I in no way assume you chose to be that way, because as a woman I know female hormones can make you feel depressed, sensitive, angry, etc. Understand yet? If not, eh, not my problem, and I’m not surprised.
Save me your self righteous speech on how your personal experience is different than mine, and therefore negates anything I say. Take your own advice, toots.
Also, nothing I said to Wayne was meant in a “mean” manner. I can see you chose to take it as such, which again doesn’t surprise me given the nature of this blog post and the kind of people that are going to agree with him, but if you, and he, can give your opinions of the “kind of people” that run “these kinds of pages” and how mean, rude, and wrong they are, I can give my opinion of Wayne- that he is a big whiney baby.
I can’t believe I even have to repeat myself, seriously. stop being such hypocrites and telling others they can’t say what they say, while you’re free to tell them all the awful things you think about them. Get off your high horses. You suck too.
Ok Samantha, enough. We should all be perfectly capable of stating an opinion without being argumentative and hateful. Now, you’re just being mean and there is no point in that. We have enough negativity in our lives to not have to put up with that. So, I am kindly asking you to STOP. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. End this conversation. If you cannot, if the rest of those in the conversation cannot, I will delete the entire thing. It’s not productive. – Tara Crooks, Cofounder Army Wife Network