RIP Facebook Condolences

So Jack Layton died today. He was one of those rare politicians that garnered respect from all sides. Whether you agreed with his politics of not, it was obvious that he was a man of principles and integrity; qualities so unusual in someone in the limelight.

Before I seem insensitive, I should probably preface this by saying that I was saddened to hear of his death and feel as though Canadians have lost an important voice who spoke for them.

I am sick of reading about him on Facebook. Posting a status update or a link to a news article seems an inadequate way to express emotion, but is something that has inundated social media. I won't post anything about Jack Layton on my Facebook status for the same reason I won't write birthday wishes, new baby congratulations, or notes of sympathy on my friends' walls. It just doesn't seem sincere. It seems cold and fake to post a message that hundreds of other people have already done. If I really cared, wouldn't I do something more than spend 8 seconds writing a brief note on Facebook? Jack spent a few of his last moments taking the time to write a heartfelt letter to Canadians. I think he deserves more respect than "RIP Jack" on thousands of News Feed posts.

Call to Inaction

I must first admit that from time to time I may have nothing better to do. I may have too much spare time. I may procrastinate. I may sit around doing nothing. I may waste time. I may be bored. I may have some spare time in my life. This does happen. I can admit that.

I can boldly declare, however, that I have never posted a comment at the end of a news story. I never will.

I find the user-posted comments to be utter rubbish. The family of Rick Rypien isn't going to go to cbcsports.ca and read the comments posted by readers at the end of an article discussing his death. Why they would be interested in sifting through comments like "RIP Rick: You are in a better place now", or "27 years old is way too soon to leave this world". These comments add nothing. The article provided excerpts of condolence from the NHL and the NHLPA. We all know it's sad when people die. I don't need someone to post it.

It is a journalists job to be balanced and unbiased. It is not the journalist's job to tell me how to feel. It should not be the role of "dovescry," "Crazed Monkey," or "sexyrexy" to tell me how I should feel after reading a news article.

For Real This Time

Is it funny or pathetic that my last post was two years ago and its salient point was that I was getting back into regular blogging?

I've been talking to a few people who insist that I must return to this blog. I will, but I make no quality assurances. I'm just going to do what I've always done: be myself and write honestly.

A lot has changed in the six years from when I began this thing. I am concerned that I won't be able to write without being miserable. Since everything is going well, I'm sure that it won't be nearly as funny/tragic. I'll just use it to keep my mind sharp and if anyone reads it and wants to hire me to blog for money, write a screenplay, or produce a chapter of a book that can be shopped around to various publishing houses and optioned to the highest bidder, I could go for that. With the proper motivation I could keep this thing up.

Here's a song to which I can't stop listening.