Social Experiments via Facebook

I recently conducted a social experiment via my Facebook status.  If you are friends on Facebook with any girls in high school, you are familiar with the "Like my status for a truth!" status or some variety of that.  If you are unfamiliar, someone who thinks their opinions are valued by others posts a status along the lines of "like my status for an opinion/truth" and who ever likes the posters status will get a short opinion written on their facebook wall.  Usually it's something the response is something like "truth is: I don't know you."

I decided to change the game and made my status this:

Insulting people would be more fun for me, and if you asked my opinion of you I would probably insult you anyway.  Honestly, I didn't think anyone would like this status.  I had a few (all male) facebook friends like this status.  Some I knew well, others were acquaintances.  

Turns out insulting my friends really wasn't that fun.  I felt compelled to insult them since they went through the effort of clicking the like button on my status, but I felt weird trying to think of some clever insult.  Ok none of my insults were clever.  I didn't want to be really mean and actually insult people.  

This was to a good friend of mine.  Good friend meaning I see him frequently and we hang out a lot.  His comeback was a lot better than my insult.  

This was to just a general friend.  You know the type.  I say hi to him if i see him places, but I don't think to call him if I am looking for a chill sesh.  I knew he would catch my sarcasm so I didn't mind being a little meaner than I would be to an acquaintance.  He's not really a douche or pretentious, he's actually really talented and modest.  My insult was commentary on a recent status he made (his status in quotes).  

I liked his response by rating my insult.  He got what I was doing - just being snarky.  

Then there was this.  I met this kid once, and honestly I could've been a lot meaner, but I want my $20. I'm pretty sure he was offended.  On the other hand, I was flattered.  I don't really think I'm pretty so I decided to take it as a compliment.  

I think EMT's are wonderful and do things I could never do.  I just can't stand the people who are obsessed with their radios and how they get to have blue lights in their cars.  

Different people responded in different ways.  Most took it for what it was - a joke.  I did learn one thing, I get really uncomfortable insulting people I like.  It just felt wrong.  Post your best insults in the comments, so I have material to use next time I try to spit game.

March Madness

It's that time of year again.  That time of year when everyone is into college basketball.  Brackets are made, choices are carefully picked and TV's are turned on.  I like making a bracket for the tournament.  Not because I like basketball, just because I like to see how well I can do with no knowledge of the teams other than their names and how they are ranked.

Usually I don't do to well.  I also don't watch the games.  I might watch one or two really important ones, like the final game.  I just go along pretending I care.  I just want to be able to tell people who I think will be the final 2.  I just wanna fit in.

It's gonna be UNC v. Kansas, UNC is gonna win.  That's my prediction.  Kansas is good with 3-pointers. (There's the one fun fact I know.)

Unsolicited Opinion: Valentine's Day

My friend has a theory about Valentine's Day.  Her theory is that it's dumb.  It's dumb because everyone else in a relationship is buying chocolate and flowers for their love too.   How romantic is it for everyone to get flowers and you get flowers too?  All of the people in love decide to go out to dinner on the same night and be super mushy.  Why should you be super nice to your love the one day everyone else is doing the same?

I’ll tell you why - because it’s tradition.  It’s been the same thing for years: flowers, chocolate, teddy bear, candles, dinner.... It’s just what you do on Valentine’s Day.  Why do we put trees in our living rooms and decorate them in December?  Because that’s what you do on Christmas.  Most people I know aren’t even Christian, but they celebrate Christmas.  You give gifts to your friends and family on Christmas, even though everyone else is doing the exact same thing.  It’s just what you do.

Sure, it sucks to be single on Valentine’s Day.  Buy your best friend some chocolates and watch a movie and stop being bitter about it.  Surround yourself with those who love you, and let them know you love them too.  Or do nothing and pretend you don’t want a box of chocolates.