Srsly.

Happy 2016! Now see here.

The new year is still in diapers, and I’m mad already. Why do I allow this to happen? Why?

Because I care. Or because I can. One of the two.

Behold, my list of…

Seriously. Just stop it.

  1. The ridiculous forwarding of hoaxes on social media (Facebook, especially). There are a lot of cool people on my friend list, and I’m not patronizing them, believe me; they’re fun and smart folks. But the height of the ridiculous was reached several weeks ago when otherwise intelligent people began to copy and paste to their profiles the utterly, preposterously vapid notion that Mark Zuckerberg was giving away a huge chunk of his fortune to Facebook users, if they’d only forward the post saying he would do so.  Again — people who otherwise are bright and savvy were cheerfully passing this on, many with the obligatory infuriating disclaimer, I figured ‘why not?’ Couldn’t hurt! Oh, but dear heart, it does hurt. It hurts the appearance that you might have a marginal lick of horse sense. This also applies to the forwarding of pictures with cockamamie stories, like the one that pictured ISIS flags in a demonstration in Dearborn Michigan, with the text going something like, “Think we don’t have a Muslim problem in the US? Pay attention!” Under a minute of cursory research reveals that the ISIS flags were actually part of an anti-ISIS rally by American Muslims living in Dearborn. But let’s not allow facts to get in the way. Rule of thumb: Always, always check. Use sites like snopes.com, politifact.comhoaxbusters.org, truthorfiction.com.
  2. The inane assumption that professional athletes cannot party. Yes, Johnny Manziel was spotted in a Vegas casino after being declared PUP by the Browns because of a concussion. And worse — he was laughing after a loss. Honestly. So what? As Charles Barkley famously proclaimed back in ’93: they aren’t paid to be role models, even though many think they should be (and admittedly, some have a morals clause in their contract). But look: What’s different about Manziel’s bad-boy off-the-field behavior compared to that of Michael Jordan, Joe Namath, Babe Ruth, Brett Favre, Dwight Gooden, Mickey Mantle, Lawrence Taylor, and countless other relentless party boy pro athletes who came before him? Social media, that’s what. Instant coverage; getting caught in the act, on video. The older guys never had to deal with that, and I submit it was easier to be naughty because of it. Moreoever, I’m not so sure Johnny ever had a bona fide drinking problem; rather, his handlers suggested rehab as a way to mitigate the feelings of anger the fan base experienced after the first video came out. I can’t prove it, but I still believe it in my gut of guts. Bottom line: If a player shows up and does the work, it doesn’t matter what he does afterwards any more than what you do after you go home from work, providing he isn’t breaking the law or a contract stipulation. If Manziel is “immature” on the playing field, then deal with it in a football manner. If he’s immature off the field, so what? It is (unfortunately) not a crime to be a jerk. It may all be moot soon anyway, as the customary and predictable biennial shakedown in the Browns front office took place last night, and Johnny may very well be hitting the road. But let’s take the sainthood aspect out of sports, because they ain’t saints. Hey, here’s a wacky idea: Parents, what if you took up the sword of teaching your kids to not be idiots about worshiping these people?        Naaah.
  3. The sickening hate speech operating under the shield of anonymity. Scratch that. Shorten it to just “The sickening hate speech.” Many online news sites have gone to the Facebook plugin exclusively for comments, but it has done little to stop some from being openly, shamelessly awful via their responses. (In regards to the the ISIS issue in #1, read some of the comments on the original Facebook post. They’re disgusting, but not nearly as terrible as some of the less transparent Disqus comments I’ve read. Also, as a veteran of Usenet and DejaNews back in the 90s, I have seen some pretty nasty stuff, but it was rarely ever posted by someone using his/her real name.) People who would likely never be as “brave” in person let loose bigtime on the internet, spewing hatred so vile it makes me wonder how they sleep at night.

The ridiculous, the inane, and the sickening. Wasn’t this just fussy of me today? Who knows; maybe it’s due to my having to reactivate my 4:45 a.m. daily alarm. I have it so tough, you know. ;-)

It’s been a fantastic winter break. Now it’s back to the insanity: the nonstop race to get through May. Once I’m there, we’re good! Ready, steady…

8 thoughts on “Srsly.

  1. Candace

    Ridiculous sums it up very well. Thank you for expressing my very own thoughts. Because of the inane posts on Social media I’ve decided EVERYTHING in my life will come before logging on. Thus my gratitude that your blog is delivered directly to my inbox. Happy first day back after break!

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Thanks, Candy — good to know I’m not the Lone Ranger on this issue. It makes me nutz. Everything else should definitely come before the electric box! I’m glad you still enjoy reading my little blog about nothing. I appreciate you!

      Reply
  2. David

    And…she is definitely back folks. Well said Ms Finkster, well said. In order:

    #1 All I can say is the silly things people latch their hopes and dreams onto. I just hope they are smart enough not to send the $500 via Western Union so they can collect their 4 Million dollar European lottery check.
    #2 The Johnny Football scrutiny has, as you said gotten way out of hand. You hit it on the head it is not a crime to be immature. I have grown weary of the attempts to raise the NFL to levels greater than it is, which is quite simply nothing more than a form of entertainment. I enjoy watching the game of football but it is just that…a game. They are not my heros or role models any more than Johnny Depp or Jennifer Lawrence.
    #3 The hate speech is frightening! Fear has raised the levels of hatred toward “anyone that does not look like, think like and worship like us.” Read E.O. Wilson’s “The Meaning of Human Existence”…though not my point of departure regarding the meaning of life, it is hard to argue with his premise that what we are seeing today is nothing more than “tribalism.”
    Love the new paradigm of: The Ridiculous, The Inane, The Sickening

    I wish you peace, long hours of sleep and the stamina to make it to MLK Day! Peace

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Tribalism is a good way to describe it. Imagine a group of armed black men even attempting what these idiots in Oregon are doing…

      I had a good first day back yesterday, which of course means that the rest of the week will suck. hahaha

      Hugs to you, fiend!

      Reply

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