Who is suffering the most is probably the most irrelevant question ever. The more intuitive and productive question is, how can I better help all those who are suffering?
Maybe I’m just weird here, but I don’t understand. I don’t understand why some self-obsessed individuals have this imperative need to tell other people what version of the truth they must accept and live by. Why they need to define for other people the only version of the world that is correct – theirs.
Why is this so necessary? Is trying to debate who is suffering the most helping? Does it accomplish anything? Well, I guess it does. It causes a tsunami of hate to wash over the world and keep people actively defending their views on social media with reckless abandon.
Yeah… I just don’t get it.
So, where the fuck am I going with this?
Self-righteousness and blindness go hand in hand.
If you’ve been on Twitter lately, then you’ve seen the flood of “I’m right and you’re wrong” tweets. The “my view is superior to yours even though I don’t know what I’m fucking talking about” tweets get even more entertaining as the Coronavirus pandemic worsens. That’s sad to say and frustrating, but I don’t run from the truth and reality isn’t always unicorns and rainbows. And a blaring verity is that the world would be a much better place if social media was removed from a select few… hahaha. And didn’t I just contradict myself by saying that? Touché.
So again I have to ask, why is it so necessary for people to express these one-sided views? What is going on in their heads that they think this actually helps the world? Let’s first judge, then keep on judging and dividing, and this will help us judge our way to a more helpful and benevolent society.
Hmmmmmm. No, I don’t think that is going to work.
Because once you start going down that line of reasoning, I think what you are really trying to say is that “I am God and you are an ant.” I am omniscient and know what is happening everywhere, at all times and in every situation, therefore I am the only one who can tweet about how people suffer.
Man, I gotta say, that is a pretty fucking amazing claim.
As I continue to scratch my head, I’m starting to wonder if maybe this social media trend of banal arguing is some sort of new Schadenfreude being born on the heels of the pandemic? Maybe? Maybe not? Or maybe the excessive amount of fear pervading peoples’ overly stressed minds in an uncertain world becoming only increasingly opaque and ambiguous with each passing day is causing them to lash out and react in ways that only a toddler throwing a temper tantrum would. Or maybe, and more likely and feasible, is that I’m just not used to how Twitter works. This is how you communicate over social media in the current age. With my limited six-month exposure to the Twitter verse, I’m still just a rookie learning what it’s like to play off the bench.
However, what I have found the most striking and confounding, is the lack of solace I’ve felt within the online FI community during this devastating tragedy. I really thought I’d see more general acceptance and pulling together, yet I haven’t. And, quite honestly, I’m surprised by this. I don’t think that the expectation for a little common decency and understanding is asking anything out of the norm.
Because if you’ve saved well, and accomplished FI, or are at least on the road to FI, then you are already so far ahead in the game. With this in mind, I would expect a grounded reserve, some sage-like patience and a little gentle compassion to be the foundation of a welcoming hand eager to combat suffering wherever possible. Fiers have made it. They get it. All they need to do is stay the course. Yet, the glibness and let’s not sugarcoat it, the blatant arrogance has shocked and disappointed me. It reminds me of children on a playground picking on each other – spoiled brats basking in the sunshine of their selfishness. They believe they are right. Only they can be right. There can be no other way. And what I see, is nothing more than entitlement masquerading as enlightenment. I would have thought that people, so sound in their financial success and accomplishments would not have such fragile egos. But it turns out they do. They’re no different than the other internet trolls or keyboard warriors screaming back at them in all CAPS letters.
If you are doing well, then you don’t need to rub it into other peoples’ faces. You don’t have to flaunt your nest egg and chastise over-spenders. Living a planned and prepared life for financial security should be wielded as a gift, shared and celebrated, not a reprimand used to shame.
I think this is what happens when you go beyond earning, to deserving. And I thought we were better than that. But this Pandemic has been a great eye opener to show me how much farther we still need to go. The awakening is yet to come my friends. So twiddle your thumbs in isolation and wait.
I’ll leave you with one last thought.
FI has so much to offer. Our community has so much to offer. We can be a much-needed comfort, resource and support structure for both improvement and guidance instead of a negative detractor only fueling the online hate machine.
For us, intelligence isn’t lacking. Motivation isn’t lacking. But compassion for some reason is. Maybe just think twice before you fire back an emotional tweet or scathing rebuttal online. Because this might come as a news flash to you, but it isn’t necessary. The world doesn’t need to know who is right and wrong in irrelevant Twitter wars… it needs to know who is willing to help.
So do that. Bite your tongue, offer a helping hand and make a difference. It doesn’t matter who you think is suffering the most. Recognize suffering for what it is and its current undeniable prevalence and be part of the solution instead of the problem.
The world needs action… the world needs people who are willing to be an answer… and the world needs YOU, now more than ever. So be a role model and paint some positivity online with the brush of FI… I know you can. And I know you will.
-Q-FI
P.S. Instead of pondering a question today, help someone when and if you can. Pay it forward my friends. The world needs you now more than ever.
A fantastic article. Couldn’t agree more. I wrote an almost similar piece yesterday for my next article. One phrase is “Perhaps this is a time to be vigilant, to be quiet, to observe & to be mindful,” which I think aligns with your point here.
Frankly, it’s been saddening to see much of the Twitter noise you allude to. It’s my only form of social media and even I’ve dropped a few folks. To be fair some have dropped me. I guess seeing nice pix of nature as opposed to fiery, ridiculous “privilege rhetoric”, does not inspire folks.
Hey Mr. Fate. Yeah, it’s been frustrating to say the least. And I’m like you, Twitter is my only social media outlet for FI and I’ve found myself on it less and less – won’t even go on it for days at a time now. I tend to be more reserved with what I put on social media anyway, but it wears on me seeing so much crap on it. And that’s a good way of phrasing it, “Twitter noise.” Maybe I need to lower expectations, but I really thought the Pandemic was going to be a strengthening event, and if anything, it seems like it has been the opposite and only made people more bold to pronounce the “us vs them” mentality.
Looking forward to when you post your new article on this topic.
Wow, we have to be reading different blogs. I haven’t seen any of that, honestly. Just about everything I’ve read has been kind and thoughtful and just as tolerant and diverse as usual. I mean we all have different takes, in my case this pandemic is a nonevent that hasn’t impacted my lifestyle enough to notice while its a big deal to many others. But I have seen very little judgy or condescending opinions myself. But I got off of Twitter years ago, so maybe that’s where the hateful stuff is.
Thanks for dropping by Steveark!
You are much smarter than I snuffing the Twitter but I still find myself indulging this sick habit. Hahaha. What I’ve found is most people are reserved in their posts, but let some pretty wild comments rip on social media. Not sure why this is the trend I have noticed, but there’s some nasty shit out there.
I’d also say it’s great to hear you’ve been unaffected by the virus. That is not the case here in LA – just doubled our total death count last week. I hope the good times keep rolling for you in your location.