Nastiness on the internet is something we’re all far too accustomed to. We accept it because ‘that’s just the way it is.’ The anonymity and openness of platforms like Twitter allow for some truly disgusting exchanges between strangers, but even on social media where real names are required for a heightened sense of accountability, people are still just as blatantly hateful.

It’s gotten to the point that I dread clicking on anything from a news outlet because there is always – literally always – someone with something awful and disparaging to say. And this is even on posts that shouldn’t garner any negativity.

But, not to let any stone go unturned, the degenerate denizens of ‘teh interwebz’ make sure to leave their mark the same way many animals do – by dropping big piles of crap wherever possible.

Everyone’s angry about something. Everything’s an outrage. Everyone’s an expert on everything. Everyone’s got an unsolicited opinion.

Don’t agree? “WELL THIN YOUR A MOORAN!!!1!11!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

These miserable goblins (who look a whole lot like people) crawl out from under whatever bridges they’re living beneath and sniff out, track down and stomp out humanity, empathy, compassion and civility wherever they may be.

It bugs me that I even pay this crap any attention, but it slowly grinds away at me each and every time I see it. I learned a long time ago that it’s not even worth the keystrokes to respond to any of these cretins because no amount of reasoning or logic will help them reach enlightenment – plus, it just increases the severity of the cringing and facepalming when they’ve focused their attention onto you.

Lately, I’ve been turning off my phone when I’m at home, and I’m trying to limit the amount of time I waste scrolling through social media. Being so plugged-in and connected all the time is exhausting, and I’m not sure it’s healthy. Some days I just want to cut myself off from society entirely and just go live in a shack in the woods. I just don’t want to participate, even as a bystander.