So there I was, walking through HES building on my way to meet someone for lunch at WestSide. The person behind me when I was coming up the stairs was asking their friend about a certain TV show and when it would be on. Upon hearing the time and realizing that it conflicted with something already on their schedule the replied with, "Well crap, fml..."
Now I understand that fml has a certain social meaning that is less dramatic than the word indicate, but it got me thinking. Some people, in fact most people, when they complain about things use hyperbole to make them sound worse than they really are to make conversation more interesting. This I am fine with. It's fun (and often funny) and we all do it, but most of us also speak this way with a grain of salt in our attitude. We know, and expect others to know, that we are in fact exaggerating and we don't actually think that having to miss the newest episode of our favorite show because of a project is the end of the world.
Notice however the distinction between all of us exaggerate and most of us speak with a grain of salt. What I mean is that there are some people who really feel that missing the newest episode is the end of the world. Their greatest concerns really are limited to trite social matters and simple opinions.
I understand that there have always been these people and there will always be this people, but I feel that there is beginning to be an increase in the percentage of the population consisting of these people. It's like there's an increasingly large generation of children that just became adults on accident. Somehow our society thinks this is okay.
What's scary is that these people are allowed/expected to make big decisions sometimes, decisions that affect the rest of their life and the lives of others.
Perhaps it's because of the way I grew up or the friends that I keep, but I think we, as good people and responsible citizens, ought to have a greater (on average) concern for the important things in the world around us. The things that actually matter, that really make a difference.
Basically this is a long-winded way to say that I think people ought to intentionally be concerned about things that are actually important and that I fear (and fear for) those who have no mental aspirations higher than what's on TV.
So don't be one of those people. Care about something, many things, outside of your own personal entertainment and comfort, beyond yourself. please
-peace
