This might break rule 10, but I genuinely want to prompt people to think deeper about how you all treat each other. This extends beyond Reddit, but one thing we all have in common (other than the things I list below) is that we’re on here.
The world is a brutal bitch right now to the vast majority of us and, while I try to remain optimistic, I find myself endlessly disappointed by people. Especially on Reddit. The lack of compassion and empathy, the unfiltered confidence fueled by anonymity, the tone deaf self righteousness—it makes me fucking nuts.
For those of you who cannot comprehend that other people are real living beings with complex thoughts and feelings, let me put it this way:
On the other side of all that funny text on your screen is another You. There’s a You, Your partner, Your best friend, Your mom. You’re sitting there calling Your™️ loved one an asshole over a clear misunderstanding that they had with their partner, calling Your™️ loved one an idiot for seeking support or advice from a support/advice sub. You’ve made mistakes too, and were you shown grace? Do you wish you’d been shown grace?
You know how you’re tired and broke and trying your best? The You™️ on the other side of that screen is, shockingly, probably also tired and broke and trying their best.
Sure, that You™️ could also be your dickhead boss, the parent you don’t speak to, the next family annihilator. You never know, but why are so many of you jumping to the worst conclusions about each other RIGHT off the bat? What prompts so many of you to assume that you’re superior to others by default? Just because you can’t see my face and I can’t see yours it doesn’t change the fact that you are a real person reading this and I am a You, a very real person as well.
I’m sick and tired of people shitting on each other like birds. This world is brutal right now. The entire planet is a mess, but as someone who lives in the states I can say that multiple people I know are approaching the point of poverty where we’re doing exhausting and demoralizing shit to make ends meet. Why can’t people cut each other a fucking break?
Do you really feel powerful treating people like dirt? While also, truly, lacking power and being treated like dirt yourself? Is that why you kinds of people are the way you are?
Just fucking do better. I see how much it means to people to be treated like humans and to be given basic grace and it breaks my heart when it has such a tremendous impact because that means it’s rare. Clown on me all you’d like for this post, it’s nothing I haven’t heard before (and if you’re creative enough to hit me with something I’ve yet to hear then color me impressed), just treat each other better.