Overheard at UC Berkeley is a Facebook page where students can post things they overheard around campus. For the most part, the posts are funny and relatable, telling the plight of confused freshmen or the weird conversation topics of people walking out of class. It seems amusing and harmless, but every now and again I would come across posts that were cruel, mocking, or taken completely out of context. And while everyone laughed and tagged their friends in the comments, I knew it was not right. After several months I have stopped following Overheard at UC Berkeley because the platform easily becomes a place to bash and humiliate others. I will not site specific instances, because it would be contrary to the purpose of this articles, but I am sure anyone who is a member of the group can think of at least a few examples.

I personally have never been quoted on Overheard, so I can only imagine the feelings some students have as they scroll through their feed only to find hundreds of students laughing at something they said, something that may have been very serious or personal. Even if no one knows, or cares, who actually said it, it must makes students feel foolish or ignorant when a question they asked in all honesty becomes a post, or belittled and ridiculed when their words become comedy to their fellow students. This can be extremely damaging to their self-esteem and is very immature on the part of posters who laugh at the students behind the posts. We often do not know the story behind the post, whether it was done with the consent of the person quoted, how the person feels about people's reactions, and what the person meant when they said it. As adults, it should seem obvious to consider these questions before posting or commenting, but apparently we still can't think about the consequences of our actions.

Not all of the posts I have issues with are related to how it impacts those quoted. Several posts reflect ignorance, stupidity, and hypocrisy. Berkeley and its students claim to be some of the most open-minded, diverse, and accepting people, yet there are so many posts that perpetuate stereotypes, demean people, and disrespect the school. So many people do not think about how their posts will be perceived or the impact they will have. Or perhaps they do and simply do not care.

In the age where we are constantly told to be respectful to everyone and follow "the golden rule", it is shameful that people still immaturely insult others and take joy in laughing at one another. Most of the posts on Overheard are funny and unoffensive, but it does not excuse the posts that become popular by taking advantage of others.

Before you post or comment in Overheard, think about how the person quoted will feel about the post. Think about how you would feel if someone posted something embarrassing you said and others laughed about it. Think about how others will perceive the post or comment. Think! If we really want to be a great, inclusive community, a refuge for people of all backgrounds, we have to ponder our actions and always act with empathy. If people that post and/or comment in Overheard at UC Berkeley start considering the effects the posts will have on others, especially those being quoted, I will rejoin because the majority of the posts are funny. But I will not follow a page that regularly becomes a place of cyberbullying disguised as humor.