I want to start off by saying Thirteen Reasons Why really is a phenomenal show that I am almost finished with (I read the book so I do already know everything that happens). If any of you who watched it and loved it haven't read the book, I definitely recommend it. It is much more powerful in the written word.
That's just what this story is though, powerful. It's chaotic, deep, heartbreaking, and all too realistic. Although it's just a story, people need to take a step back and remember that this is a story based on truth. Many people do wake up every morning feeling the same feelings Hannah Baker felt, and many people go to sleep every night contemplating doing exactly what Hannah Baker did. Some of the recent TV show's viewers seem to forget that. I've seen countless tweets and memes making fun of Hannah Baker's reasoning and rationale, written by people who don't seem to understand suicide at all. People don't understand that this is a mental thing that sometimes is set off by HUGE horrors that happen in a person's life, but it sometimes is set off by the smallest of things that just might push someone over the edge. You cannot fully get it unless you've felt that way, so if you haven't, kindly keep your mouth closed about things you don't understand.
Another issue I have with the show's reception is the lesson people are getting out of it. Yes, Hannah's story proves that we need to be kind and open and supportive towards one another, but didn't you already know that? You shouldn't need a TV show to remind you to not spread lies about another person. You shouldn't need a TV show to tell you to step in when you see something wrong happening before your eyes. These are things that we, as human beings, should already be completely aware and capable of. If you do need a television show to inform you of all of these things then maybe you're apart of the problem.
What this show should be teaching you is that every little thing you do and say affects someone else's entire life. It might just be one small thing to you, but to them it could be everything. You never know what someone is going through outside of their school life or at home, and sometimes you just don't know what's going on in their head.
Your words and your actions count, so please use them for good. Spreading good is like a ripple effect: once you get a bit of it, you can't help but send out more. So to everyone who is currently watching this show, please take a minute and assess what you are getting out of it and how you are going to reflect it in your everyday life. Remember that it's not just Hannah Baker's story, it's your best friend's story, your neighbor's story, your little cousin's story. It's a story that is all too prevalent, but a story that we can all try our best to beat and triumph over.
