I’m convinced some of y’all can only do a good deed if everybody else knows about it. It’s like doing nice things for someone without putting it on social media makes it invalid. If it’s not recorded, it never happened right? Bruh, likes and online validation is such a craze these days and it’s sad to say but even I’ve fell victim. Instant gratification is one hell of a drug! But this has gone beyond cheeky captions and well filtered Instagram posts, I’m seeing certain guys whip out their phones whenever someone near-enough sneezes around them just to say “bless you” and let the socials know about it. Keep that to yourself bro! Half the things I see online I’m genuinely rattled as to why it was uploaded in the first place. But I studied business, more specifically on how to mind my own, so more often than not I just keep it moving.
I struggle accepting kind gestures from people these days. I can imagine receiving a favour from someone and a couple hours later I’m tagged in a post captioned “helping the needy”. Needy where lol? Can’t have your followers thinking I’m being supported by handouts. Furthermore, who gave you permission to post that? Please don’t use me as an example just to impress your seven followers. Can’t be recording me like you’re acquiring evidence, I’ll sidekick the camera out of your hands. Report your post for defamation of character; it’s all fun and games until you wake up with libel charges. Not everybody can be a social media influencer especially with your lightweight heroics. Once you do an Oprah Winfrey and buy me a car or something then I’ll even subtweet your sh*t posts and express my gratitude.
What riles me the most is seeing people recording the homeless whilst giving them money or food. You can actually hand over money with your right hand without recording with your left! I’d imagine homeless people have much more pressing concerns than their faces being plastered all over the net but c’mon, let a man keep his dignity. Buying someone an English tea and a Greg’s sausage roll will have people thinking they’re Samaritans. Some homeless people are genuinely outside in the cold, drunk off of Glenn’s Vodka, whilst battling foxes for territory to sleep and you wanna be doing videography? Loose change is not enough of a reason to turn Speilberg every time you see someone in need. Certain treatment only apply to the less fortunate it seems ‘cos you wouldn’t expect your friends and family to put you on their Insta Stories every time you needed a favour.
Can’t be recording me like you’re acquiring evidence, I’ll sidekick the camera out of your hands. Report your post for defamation of character; it’s all fun and games until you wake up with libel charges.
Listen, I like celebrating mediocrity just like the next guy but have the decency of keeping it to yourself. Not everything needs to be broadcasted just to stroke your ego. But seeking validation from strangers is the in thing these days. We all do it to some extent every time we log into the socials but it’s just sad that it’s considered acceptable to do so at the expense of others. Turning an act of kindness into a “look at me” moment is the reason why I have trust issues. But after all, it’s a nice gesture right? “Better to help out than to do nothing at all”, I always hear. It’ll just be interesting to see how generous people would be if there wasn’t anyone to boast about it.
A Good Deed: https://joeoriade.com/2014/12/31/a-good-deed/
Joe
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