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(no subject)

[Kimmi has a sign! WILL LISTEN TO YOUR PROBLEMS, it declares, 1$ SUGGESTED DONATION]

Why are people so eager to seek the advice of strangers?

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You know how sometimes when somebody writes something and they only notice weeks later there's been an error? Fresh eyes help with that. Similarly, so does a fresh perspective on a given problem or question.

In the age of the internet, there seems to be a lot of... overshare. While the most concerned about that are those not used to it, I'm not convinced they don't have a point to make.

Edited 2014-09-29 17:46 (UTC)

What bothers you about it? Safety?

Safety is the reason it bothers everyone, isn't it?

No, some people are bothered by it because they think emotional openness, including over-sharing, is tacky.

It is true that most people have made themselves easily caught out, though it's difficult not to leave a trail even without deliberately putting your life out there. [ doable, though. thanks mom. ]

There are always people waiting to hurt you. I'm only surprised it doesn't happen more.

[ whoa there cap'n sunshine. not wrong, to be fair. ]

Sometimes people make the decision to go ahead despite that knowledge.

[HE HAS A TRAGIC PAST that he'd prefer not to burden on people because aren't his vague platitudes enough?]

They do. Is that because they trust the rest of humanity, or because their needs outweigh fear? I wonder.

Maybe neither. Some people have a peculiarly laissez-faire view on the more painful experiences life has to offer.

Perhaps because they've yet to experience them? Or think they are immune?

Or they're masochists. Not being glib; those people exist. Some of them are even happy.

A stranger may offer a more objective view than an associate and there's no requirement to heed any advice received. I personally find that a complete stranger may yield the most enjoyable of discussions.

It only becomes a troublesome attitude when an individual seeks to burden an unwilling party with their problems but that's hardly limited to those one is unfamiliar with.

Yes, but would you agree that we are almost encouraged to 'burden' strangers with our problems? This odd place aside, it's so common in everyday life that no one seems to blink before speaking here.

It seems to be human nature to share one's troubles with others. Be it to receive advice or sympathy or simply to air a grievance, almost everyone does it. All that changes is how such troubles are shared. As technology advances our means of communication improve and the audience one can burden likewise increases. The motivation behind it remains the same. Or do you disagree?

That seems about the sum of it, but I wonder if technology also increases the risk it brings. Or maybe I am just channeling fear-mongering of an older generation threatened by such technology?

[There is a long pause, while he takes out a sharpie and adds OR PRE-PACKAGED FOOD to his sad little sign.]

I could be listening too much to such things.

[The sign gets a considering glance but he doesn't comment for the moment.]

I don't feel I'm in a position to easily judge such a thing. We might do better to ask you feel at risk from such things? Or if you have any evidence to support such fears?

It's safer than talking to people who actually know you. Hi, you're gorgeous. Do you model?

[...look, Penelope has clothes and people need to wear them, accosting perfect strangers about it is totally reasonable. To her. Just bear with it.]

I, uh -

[congrats, Penelope, you've knocked him out of his bromidic speeches.

No. Would that possibly earn my dinner easier than an contradictory sign?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: definitely, yes, plus free tailoring on your own clothes upon request.

[It's all about what SHE can do for YOU. Really. You can't lose!!]

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