So here lately, I've noticed a lot of hate and meanness going around. I'm sure you've noticed this, too, if you have been on the internet or out in public over the past two months. Don't get me wrong; this has been an issue for way more than two months. It just seems that here recently things have gotten worse. People are turning on each other. What good comes from this? The thing is, when I talk about this issue, I don't even mean on large scale violent terms. I have noticed this happening just between people on the internet.
Countless times has someone posted a photo or post on a social media site– sharing themselves or their moments with those who are interested. It could be something as simple as a photo of a bike- nothing wrong with that, right? Yet, somehow someone finds a way to criticize the person for this. For no reason at all, just shamelessly put another human being down. I am in no way saying that 'having a reason' justifies being mean, but how could you do that to someone and feel no remorse? That is what I don't get. How can you be mean to another human and have no guilt for the actions you have done towards them at all?
Now that you have made it this far in the article, I'm sure you see now where the title of it stems from. It seems as if these people are being mean to feel good. I mean, there would be no other reason, right? If these people actually felt bad about their actions, I don't think they would be continuing to do it. These people are, just again, being mean to feel good.
That is the problem. One human should not have to ultimately dehumanize another to feel good about themselves. There is no true reward to that. Sure, you may somehow feel good about yourself knowing you have hurt another, but no one is going to see you as any better. Now this is where the cycle comes in. Your actions are going to make you appear, obviously, as a mean person. If you treat others meanly, chances are you won't get the nicest remarks in return. This is what pushes you to dehumanize another. Take your average school bully, for instance. A lot of the time when people bully, it is because someone was mean to them for no reason. Then they ultimately feel like they have to be mean to someone else in order to gain this good feeling of themselves back. This isn't cool. This has never been cool, nor will it ever be cool. I'm sure I am speaking to the choir here, but if you are reading this and you display these actions or if you know someone who is like this, let me offer you some alternatives of what you can do when you feel these urges to be mean to another human being.
Eat chocolate. Ride your bike. Glue googly eyes to inanimate objects. Read a book. Watch 50 movies. Binge-watch Netflix shows. Write a letter. Adopt a cat. Heck, adopt TWO cats. Take a nap. Clean out your room. Put down the electronics. Listen to music. Blare the music. Write in a journal. Paint something. Watch a TED talk. Drink some water. Wash your car. Wash someone else's car. Dance. Go for a ride. Get some coffee. Watch random YouTube videos. Do something.
Basically, what I'm saying here is that when you get so angry that you want to hurt someone else (physically or mentally), do something. Get control of your actions.
After all, what could be more rewarding than making yourself feel good? But here's the twist- make yourself feel good without clouding someone else's sunshine.
