An Intrinsically Hypocritical Rant On Rants

Facebook ranting is the new black, or so it appears as I scroll through my feed day after day. Interspersed between every birthday greeting, #selfie, and call to buy five-inch eyelashes lie angry, frighteningly revealing, and/or vulgar rants on, well, just about anything and everything. 

When I’m feeling extra-indulgent, or I’m in the mood to get even more bewildered and depressed about humanity, I’ll scroll through the comments section of said rants. Perhaps, you say, if it bothers me so, I should just get off Facebook and do what I’m actually supposed to be doing instead of wasting away my time. Perhaps you are right. (You are absolutely right). But here I remain.

And so the time has come for me to add my two cents. To battle fire with fire - an age old tactic that never seems to work, and yet here we all are with our flame guns, torching each other to the ground. And oh, so publicly.

Ps. All below listed examples are among the posts I've seen in only the past week or two.

Got in a fight with your husband? 

Your sister was a jerk to you? 

Your child didn’t call you back? 

You heard your so-called-friend was talking about you behind your back? 

Here’s a revolutionary thought - don't post about it on Facebook.
Things you're accomplishing: alienating that person farther, driving a larger wedge between you, causing more hurt.
Things you're not accomplishing: making anything better for you. Or them. Or anyone.
Oh, and the fact that you didn't use names isn't fooling anyone either.

You went to college or moved away from your hometown to "make something of yourself?" That's great! I fully support that decision! But guess what? The fact that someone couldn't, or chose not to, doesn't mean they aren't "someone" too.
You couldn't or chose not to go to college and you're working hard to be the best you can be? Good for you! But that doesn't mean that all the people that did go think they're better than everyone.

Someone got started down a bad road at a young age? For goodness sakes don't trample them into the ground with your high-and-mighty boot. LOVE them. HELP them. "But for the grace of God go I" is not just a trite little statement, it's the truth.

Someone got married out of high school? Good for them! I sincerely hope it works out!
Someone "still" hasn't gotten around to getting married? Good for them! They're probably doing just fine!

You think that person is disgusting because they’re too fat? 

And you think that one is disgusting because they’re too skinny? 

And that one over there because they work out too much? 

Here’s a thought, they’re not “disgusting.” They may be unhealthy. But unless you’re actually concerned about them, and their health, and you’re offering some constructive, concerned, or otherwise redemptive tidbit of wisdom, then shush.

Perhaps instead of Facebook-screaming at each other about whether our president has the right to comment on whether Christians may be lacking love (I withhold my personal opinion for another time and place) - perhaps instead of getting our proverbial Facebook panties in a bunch we should take this opportunity to examine whether our own hearts are being led by mercy, whether our faith communities are reaching out in love to those around us, whether our Facebook comments reflect grace more than they reflect what our president may have been referring to.

Someone posts something positive about our government?

You don’t need to call them a blind, stupid *swear word.*

Someone posts something negative about our government?

You don’t need to call them a blind, stupid *swear word.*

Someone says anything about anything?

You don’t need to call them a blind, stupid *swear word.*

Stop being a blind, stupid *swear word.*

Basically, EVERYBODY CALM THE EF DOWN. 

Perhaps you find my all-caps call to tranquility hypocritical.

Perhaps you feel the need to comment, shining a spotlight on my hypocrisy.

I would refer you to the title of this post. 

I would also tell you to calm the ef down.