Saturday, August 31, 2013

Ah, Go Ahead, Say it All!

You used to think that it was so easy

You used to say that it was so easy

But you're trying, you're trying now

Another year and then you'd be happy

Just one more year and then you'd be happy

But you're crying, you're crying now


Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty




I see posts on Facebook of people who are in pain enough to shout it out, in words for all to see. Some posts are a mere “Meh” and others are a detailed daily diary of their personal misery. Call it courage to be that open or a lack of social awareness to know that parading your life on Facebook builds a certain perception of you. It's probably both, depending on who is reading you. But those who can post their inner most thoughts, have balls.


Do I judge those harshly who post these very open confessions? Not so much as everyone grapples with life and some of us will howl it out louder than others. Though it's the younger ones that do this with more ease as their lives are built around tele-com. My generation and others older than me are a bit reticent to advertise our deepest, personal thoughts. Or my Dad's generation, who ate every piece of bad luck, injustice and insult with a Stoic fortitude bordering on stupidity. Well, you can do that, but enjoy how it eats you from the inside out. Add to that, you get no medal for that kind of moxie either.
 
 
Hard Boiled, Pig Headed, Tough Guy Cartoon Hero From My Dad's Time, Though It Him Shot to Shit.

 
“There's no crying in life they'd say...or bitching, moaning, complaining. You better take-it-in-the-ass as those with more power than you screw you over.” You had better keep your rank, keep your place and SHUT UP. They call them the “Greatest Generation,” those of WW2. But I have some reservations on some aspects of how they viewed life. Do you know why officers carried side arms? It wasn't to shoot the enemy, it was to shoot their own troops who turned tailed and ran after making the correct assumption that charging a German machine gun nest wasn't in their best interests. Gotta love that dictatorship. There was an old marching ditty from then that went like this:


“Hut-two-three-four. Shut your mouth and say no more!”


Be a good worker bee and follow orders that do nothing for your benefit but everything for those above you.


Christ, no wonder I'm a Democrat.


Wait, I'm getting way off the subject here.


Facebook, where you can build a face for the public to see. It's highschool all over again and you can post your weekend's highlights of you face down in a puddle of puke, at the beach with a selfie shot that crops out your beer gut or say a pic of out of focus fireworks and your sometimes not so nice looking children, girlfriends, husbands and what not.  Just be sure to couch your posts showing what a fantastic life you have!  Leave the other posts about your fucked up kids, failing marriage or say your not-so-secret drug problems out, otherwise you'll knock your social standing down a few notches!


Wow, is this getting caustic!


By the way, I'm guilty as sin about this too, I'm not immune. I'm well aware of what I post on Facebook. I have a certain amount of courage to lift that public mask off my face but once again, since I'm part of the High School we call Life, I cave in to CONFORMITY at times.


Ah well, those of you who wish to post your life's complaints on Facebook, go right ahead, regardless of what other's may think. You have more courage than most.

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