This, That, and the Other

It looks like I’m not the only one who periodically asks provocative questions. Rory, A Guy Called Bloke, has also posed some provocative questions of his own, but unlike mine, his questions offer some multiple choice answers.

Rory’s questions and my answers:

Is Social Media Ruining Genuine Friendship & Encouraging More Loneliness?

• Yes, It’s Damaging Us
• No, It’s another format
• No Opinion
• Actually, I think…

Yes and no. Just like the advent of the internet, social media does some good and some harm depending upon who’s using it, how they’re using it, and why they’re using it. Sure, some social media sites can have a negative impact on some folks, while for others, they can be very reinforcing. And while social media may be altering the way people interact with one another, I don’t believe that, overall, it is ruining genuine friendships or encouraging greater loneliness. That hasn’t been my experience, anyway. But I don’t have much of a social media presence, other than on WordPress, and I’m an old geezer, so what do I know?

Why Do People Bully Others?

• Insecurity
• Avoid Own Problems
• Look Cool
• For Fun

 Because some people are assholes.

Which Stigma/Taboo Is Worse?

• Mental Health
• Self Harm
• Suicidality
• Bullying

I suppose suicide is the most drastic harmful action anyone can take, since there’s no going back once done. I don’t know, in terms of stigmas or taboos, which of the others is worse. Bullying is outwardly directed, so the bully hurts others, whereas self-harm is inwardly directed. And mental health, per se, is neither a stigma nor a taboo. It’s something everyone should strive to maintain or achieve.

Do You NEED People In Your Life? How Many People Do You Meet With & Talk

• 1-3 per Day
• 4-9 Per Day
• 10-17 Per Day
• 18+ Per Day

I think we all need people. No man — or woman — is an island. That said, the number of people one interacts with depends upon a person’s circumstances and situation. For example, I’m retired, so I no longer interact daily with a whole host of work associates. I have my wife and kids and a very small circle of friends with whom I regularly interact in the real world. And here on WordPress, I interact daily through my blog and their blogs with several dozen “regulars,” way more than in the real world.