So, here’s the thing about the internet: people tend to treat it like it’s not real life. As in, there’s a fake reality here and a true reality out in the offline world. And, it’s all well and good that people feel more comfortable sharing things about themselves while on the internet, but we run into a problem when it comes to dating because it’s like, dude, STOP THE OVERSHARE.
Which brings us to the next really big issue with the internet and dating, which also leads me to believe that there are an endless amount of issues with the internet and dating but that’s neither HERE NOR THERE, so we’ll just move on to the absolute craziness that is oversharing. ALL THE OVERSHARING.
As in, no, dude, do not tell me what all your insecurities are. Because, you know what happens when you do this? When you overshare every single one of your insecurities? ALL I FOCUS ON ARE YOUR INSECURITIES. THAT MOLE ON YOUR COLLARBONE? FOCUSING ON IT. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS!
And, don’t get me wrong here, I’m possibly one of the reigning queens of the overshare, so I’m mostly writing this as a detailed and open letter to myself, but just because I CAN’T STOP OVERSHARING DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU SHOULDN’T ATTEMPT TO STOP. BE STRONGER THAN ME, PEOPLE.
I’m really sorry I keep yelling at you. It’s all the cosmos I had at dinner. No, seriously. Like, four of them. That’s a lot of alcohol. Also, I’m oversharing in my blog post about oversharing, so at some point, you’re getting a clear idea of WHO I AM. Which is to say, I’m a hypocrite. I’m telling you to stop sharing every mundane and personal detail of your life with the internet, but clearly, and I mean, CLEARLY, I can’t even look myself in the mirror and take my own advice.
Then again, am I the type of person who won’t shell out advice without taking it myself? No, my friends, I am not. So, here I go, listening to Kate Nash and standing on my soapbox, telling you that when you are talking to someone you’ve only met online, you should probably, I don’t know, STOP WITH THE INCESSANT NEED TO SHARE THINGS YOU’D NEVER SHARE EVEN IF YOU WERE, YOU KNOW, SITTING ACROSS FROM SOMEONE DRINKING LOTS AND LOTS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
Like, let’s just say, for the record, that when it comes to the internet and when it comes to possibly dating someone you met from the internet, that if you are thinking of telling them something that you wouldn’t tell them after two cocktails IN REAL LIFE, then you probably should real quickly hit BACKSPACE BACKSPACE BACKSPACE. Is this a good rule of thumb? I think so. I know so. So, let’s follow it. Let’s ALL follow it. Including me. But not including me. Because I’m allowed to give advice I don’t take. I know better.
Except I don’t know better. And I maybe cry a lot. And drink excessive amounts of vodka that looks pink, but is terribly lethal. So, I don’t know. Ignore this. Or don’t. It’s your call.
Wait. What just happened?
It’s so cold.
