Sometimes you just can't shut up
You know that friend of yours on Facebook that keeps posting pictures of skinny children from Somalia, ruining your mojo? I bet that annoys you real bad, doesn't it? Because the last thing you want to see on Facebook is some skinny kids who are probably going to die in two days without you being able to do anything about it.
When you're doing well and have enough money to eat and have moved on to more elevated priorities, it disturbs you to see a picture that shows you that not everyone is as lucky as you, doesn't it?
I don't disagree that there's some real weird people out there and some of them post some really creepy stuff on Facebook. I also don't disagree that most of the time, there truly is nothing you can do for that poor kid in Somalia. Does that mean that we should sit in our own little bubble, eating our food, drinking our beer and pretending that there's no-one starving in the world?
Now think about it this way. Your weird Facebook friend has just read that there was a gas pipe explosion somewhere. Many people died, were disfigured, left homeless and so on. He notices that the explosion happened because a company - that also works in your neighbourhood - has not respected the safety regulation. He suddenly starts posting articles about that gas pipe explosion, pictures of dead people and children crying. Your wall is invaded with these articles and pictures to the point where you're just fed up with it.
Yes, I understand your frustration. You've just come for a very tiresome day at the office. Maybe you had a fight with your wife. You go on Facebook to relax, not to see pictures of dead people. But skipping over the fact that the pictures are not pleasant, have you ever tried thinking about what your weird Facebook friend is trying to say?
The problem with your indifference is that it doesn't just affect you. In the case I've just presented, if you know that the company that operates in your neighbourhood is not doing all it can to prevent gas pipe explosions and you're not doing anything about it, it's not just you and your family that die or get hurt or remain homeless. Your weird Facebook friend will also be in danger of having that happen to him. And because life is not always fair, you might still be OK afterwards, while he'll be lying in a ditch somewhere.
I am not saying that your weirdo friend could not be wrong. Sometimes, even if the company is not entirely safe, gas pipe explosions don't happen. But, really, is that a risk you want to take? If the articles are wrong you won't be wasting anything. But if they are right, you and your family could be in a whole lot of trouble.. And, even worse, that weird kid who's been trying to warn you all this time, could be too.
The reason he can't shut up about it is because he's scared. He's not worried about you, he's worried about himself. If he's the only one shouting this out, the company we'll just say 'oh, it's that weird kid again' and won't do anything to check their safety procedures and all he can do is sit and watch the gas pipes every day and hope they won't blow up.
...now you may say that the kid can just move out and that's that. But what if it's not just about your neighbourhood? What if it's your entire country or planet? Where do you run while your neighbours just shrug and refuse to look at those nasty pictures?
When you're doing well and have enough money to eat and have moved on to more elevated priorities, it disturbs you to see a picture that shows you that not everyone is as lucky as you, doesn't it?
I don't disagree that there's some real weird people out there and some of them post some really creepy stuff on Facebook. I also don't disagree that most of the time, there truly is nothing you can do for that poor kid in Somalia. Does that mean that we should sit in our own little bubble, eating our food, drinking our beer and pretending that there's no-one starving in the world?
Now think about it this way. Your weird Facebook friend has just read that there was a gas pipe explosion somewhere. Many people died, were disfigured, left homeless and so on. He notices that the explosion happened because a company - that also works in your neighbourhood - has not respected the safety regulation. He suddenly starts posting articles about that gas pipe explosion, pictures of dead people and children crying. Your wall is invaded with these articles and pictures to the point where you're just fed up with it.
Yes, I understand your frustration. You've just come for a very tiresome day at the office. Maybe you had a fight with your wife. You go on Facebook to relax, not to see pictures of dead people. But skipping over the fact that the pictures are not pleasant, have you ever tried thinking about what your weird Facebook friend is trying to say?
The problem with your indifference is that it doesn't just affect you. In the case I've just presented, if you know that the company that operates in your neighbourhood is not doing all it can to prevent gas pipe explosions and you're not doing anything about it, it's not just you and your family that die or get hurt or remain homeless. Your weird Facebook friend will also be in danger of having that happen to him. And because life is not always fair, you might still be OK afterwards, while he'll be lying in a ditch somewhere.
I am not saying that your weirdo friend could not be wrong. Sometimes, even if the company is not entirely safe, gas pipe explosions don't happen. But, really, is that a risk you want to take? If the articles are wrong you won't be wasting anything. But if they are right, you and your family could be in a whole lot of trouble.. And, even worse, that weird kid who's been trying to warn you all this time, could be too.
The reason he can't shut up about it is because he's scared. He's not worried about you, he's worried about himself. If he's the only one shouting this out, the company we'll just say 'oh, it's that weird kid again' and won't do anything to check their safety procedures and all he can do is sit and watch the gas pipes every day and hope they won't blow up.
...now you may say that the kid can just move out and that's that. But what if it's not just about your neighbourhood? What if it's your entire country or planet? Where do you run while your neighbours just shrug and refuse to look at those nasty pictures?
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