I Mustn't Gloat

Social Media has brought various changes to people's lives. It has given lots of advantages. It has brought positive and negative things.

People can make money out of it.

People can share inspirational quotes.

People can share  useful ideas.

People can share DIYs.

People can easily reach out.

People can have virtual friends. (Although this isn't really that bad, it's still better to have real friends.)

But...

There are people who insensibly rant about everything. (Hanep talaga yong iba, walang preno.)

People bully other people through social media. (Cyberbullies and trolls)

People post things they ought to keep private. (Washing dirty laundry in public)

People post asinine things about people.  

I don't judge but I can't help but ask the big question, WHY? Why do this? 

Typhoon Yolanda was one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded. It had taken lots of lives. It wrecked havoc and destruction. It brought the worst and the best characters out of people. It was one of the darkest times in the Philippines. Unlike other countries, it had taken years to rebuild and repair the damages, and not without the aid from other generous countries. 

Why brought out the typhoon?

I brought it out because people were irrational sometimes. That time, our company asked for volunteers. I was willing to go. After all, it was the least that I could do since I couldn't travel and actually help the people who were affected. But then, for some reason, which I can't disclose specifically here, I changed my mind. I don't have problems in associating with people but if I can't bear to be with a person or certain people, I'd rather not stress myself to indulge or be with them.

I had an office mate before. She would keep on talking about public officials not doing enough to help the stranded and starved people. How officials just lazed it out. How an official had to put his name on the goods that they would distribute (Well, I reacted on this for that was clearly disgusting). However, volunteers couldn't reach the place and give help to the people simply because the place was unreachable. She would express chains of concerns every day. Same thing, every day. The mantra just went on and on to the point that it irked me already. It irritated me because her rant about useless officials couldn't really help the poor people. Worse, she was venting it out on me. Before I could stop myself, I told her to run as a public servant (Tumakbo ka kaya...) . Which offended her. Then she did the lowest thing a person could do on social media. (Which what I am doing now. :P ). She posted about me lacking concern. That there were people like me who didn't care. She ranted about herself showing sympathy and concern and people would just tell her to run as a public servant. She even said that I had to be coaxed to volunteer. Hahaha. Boang! She was so wrong. I was concerned but I didn't have to slap it to her face just to show her that I sympathized (Hmmm..speaking of slapping someone, there were times I wanted to slap her for all the things she said behind my back and for those insensible comments she has made about me). And why make the volunteering thing an issue? I wasn't the only one who didn't come. I got personal reasons why I didn't go. One of them was to deal with people like her. Hahaha! Pero pwera biro, may personal na rason talaga ako kung bakit hindi ako nakapunta. Wala na akong pamasahe nun. 

The question is why would she give a damn if I go or not? Why count the things I do and things that I don't do? I don't give a damn what she fudging does. I was hoping she would do the same. Why post it? I get it she was thoughtful and was really concerned but even a 5-year old would know that strings of tirade wouldn't help. If she was so concerned, why didn't she make a way to be heard by those officials she was ranting about. Maybe it would have made her feel better if she approached a radio station and aired her vociferation.

I just couldn't believe she posted it on Facebook, praising herself and condemning someone. However, something happened (it's her story so I won't elaborate) and I never imagined she would get a chance to taste her own medicine. It took 2 years for karma to arrive. It was worse than what I have experienced from her. I'll be honest, I was hoping she would learn that what she did was wrong but I didn't wish it to be that exage. 

I wanted to gloat but what she experienced was something I could never imagine to happen to me. If there is one thing that I don't like about social media, it's the freedom that it gives to users to post strings of harangue about other people.


Therefore, I conclude that karma is not just a word.