[Shazerac]

I’ve been feeling like a cranky old lady lately. Maybe I have Old Fart Syndrome.
? Kind of cynical and totally over getting bent out of shape by each passing crisis in the world. On social media young people are constantly outraged and on the band wagon for whatever the cause of the day is.

I just shake my head and think I don’t have time for this. I’m just holding onto a blade of grass, trying not to fall off the earth. Other days I have to resist the urge to climb on the roof and skeet shoot my collectible plates.

It makes me wonder...am I hopelessly self absorbed? Or is this just the normal part of aging? It’s kind of emabarassing to be my age and still be having manic mood swings and depression like I was a teenager. I logically know that bipolar does not “go away” and we don’t grow out of it. Emotionally however...I’m sick and tired of it.

Try to ignore the millennials on social media; they just like to find reasons to get offended because it starts drama and gives them something to do. I am a millennial myself (I'm 26) and I am deeply embarrassed by my fellow millennials. I know exactly what you're talking about because my former friends do that **** all the time. It's nauseating and annoying. Thank god we're not all like this.

Also, try not to be embarrassed about mood swings. They happen. Hell, my grandma is 82 and she still gets mood swings (dr suspects she has BP 1). Even the average person gets mood swings, even if the swings are not as intense or as extended as BP mood swings. It's not a maturity thing. I think it's just a biological thing that everyone experiences from time to time.

I hope you're able to find some inner peace soon. Take things one day at a time and focus on doing what makes you happy (as long as it doesn't involve you going on a murder spree or something ). The more you focus on happiness and the less you focus on the negatives, the better off you'll be in my experience.

[Shazerac]

Thank you for you humorous take on things. It comforted me a lot. It’s nice to know that not all young people feel the need to be constantly outraged by something or the other. It is exhausting.

[Patagonia]

I think I have that syndrome too. I feel I just don’t have the time (not that I’m the least bit busy) for all the chaos wired into our lives especially thru the media. And I feel my SO & I have gone in opposite directions over this issue too.
He is really absorbed by media & “screens” phones, apps etc & mostly says its work related, but really it’s not. It’s, I feel, wanting to be in the know & keeping abreast of everything. We all know we just can’t do that with the amount of info coming into our lives now. Plus he has a very “global” perspective which I do not.

And I’ve gone in the opposite direction. I’ve cut social media out, except here, don’t care about news & the world around me....bec I think it’s just going too dam fast! Remember trying to get into a jump rope game & standing there waiting to time it? Well, I just can’t seem to jump in so I’m an “all time ender!” (I hold the rope for others). Feel pretty lonely.

Maybe it’ll slow down. Some day. When it does I’ll be out on some hike lol.

[*Laurie*]

For me, I've noticed that I'm tending to be severe with people in service positions. For example, if I order an espresso drink and it's not made the way I ordered it I am very severe about returning the drink and requesting a new drink.

I think to myself, "Am I becoming 'that' cranky, mean old lady that I disliked when I was younger? Yikes!" And I don't think it has to do with my bipolar, at all. I just get fed up with people who don't do their jobs properly. BUT I really don't want to become a cranky old meany.

It is a fervent goal of mine not to become an old crank. Like bluebicycle, I find the certain behavior of my contemporaries (and older) (I'm 55) deeply embarrassing. This is something that has come up in therapy (in relation to sui).

Skeet shooting collectible plates sounds fun! It really does!
I don't know why mood swings should be any more embarrassing at one age as at any other age(???) They are what they are.

FWIW, I don't think you're totally self absorbed, and I'm not even sure why you would think that.

[Wild Coyote]

So we are all meeting at Shazerac's for a skeet shooting party?
Count me in!

The media is too much. I like to be informed, yet without the drama and the repetition. It gets old fast.


WC

[Unrigged64072835]

I don't even look at the news much anymore. The last time I looked was to find out where the tornado near us landed. No one was hurt.

I'm more cranky about people around my age. My daughter was a social justice warrior at one time, but she's mellowed out now.

I have enough drama at home--I don't need it from the news as well.

I can't even hit the broad side of a barn, much less one that was ripped up by a tornado. I'll donate some plates, though.

[emgreen]

I'm greatly heartened by the social activism of young people these days. I was getting cynical about the future since so many young people seemed to be plugged in to video games & such. It's great to see them getting involved in real world issues. Gun violence in schools, for example, is a cause that affects kids directly, & it did my heart good to see the demonstrations in D.C.. I'd be more of a grouchy old fart if they remained silent about the future.

[Shazerac]

Originally Posted by emgreen

I'm greatly heartened by the social activism of young people these days. I was getting cynical about the future since so many young people seemed to be plugged in to video games & such. It's great to see them getting involved in real world issues. Gun violence in schools, for example, is a cause that affects kids directly, & it did my heart good to see the demonstrations in D.C.. I'd be more of a grouchy old fart if they remained silent about the future.

Actually you have a good point there. I just get overwhelmed by it sometimes.

I think the kids are going to show everyone what’s up. One of my fb friends for one of the losing candidates in the last presidential election was so frustrated with the situation of kids being for the candidate and posting memes, yet they hadn’t registered to vote.

I don’t think that will happen again.

Shazarac-you are right. People looking for things to be outraged about and posting is not activism and is annoying.

[amicus_curiae]

I have it — OFS.

Mine presents as having a cynical take as I’m awakening and I wish that I could sleep the day away rather than read more stupid news. I don’t mean “stupid news” to reflect upon journalists at all, only saying that the press, quite rightly, reports on the stupidity so widespread in our country’s leadership.

I’m cynical. I’m tired. This is my social media — here. Self-absorbed? Yeah, that, too. An example: I was never worried about my body until my first heart attack at 34. Now I have such an awareness (obsession) with it all breaking down.

Last night an old friend dropped in: Mr. Post. Mr. Post is a radio personality with a program of talk-show elements but he also plays music. The music is so very eclectic, playing Mozart and Strummer. I first started hearing Mr. Post in 1984 and he would not allow me to sleep. I’ve not heard him in years, maybe, but he came back last night.

I was a functioning wreck for a long time. I’m not surprised that my mental disorders are still with me. I’m trying to continue to be ‘functional enough’ that I need not go back into institutions. For 3-4 days I’ve had heart arrhythmias (?) when getting out of bed.

Maybe I would know more about the web if I had maintained my interest in having the best technology. Now, I don’t care, can’t afford it. Are there other PC-style message boards? Am I really missing something with no Facebook?

What Patagonia and Laurie said. Yeah. They nailed it. I may be the oldest old fart on this thread.

What a wonderful topic!

[*Laurie*]

I am SO proud of young people these days! If anything truly great has come from the weird times in which we live it has to be that the young ones are stepping up to the plate and taking action. My generation was so apathetic...it always made me feel uncomfortable.

[liveforsummer]

Skeet shooting? Never tried it but would be willing to give it a go!

IMO there are so many pros and cons to the bombardment of social media. Sometimes I think it’s a bit of human nature to be immortalized in some way and this opens the door for anyone seeking that.

As for me, I do find it helpful but hope I’m not alive when the AI’s rise against us!

[Shazerac]

Originally Posted by liveforsummer

Skeet shooting? Never tried it but would be willing to give it a go!

IMO there are so many pros and cons to the bombardment of social media. Sometimes I think it’s a bit of human nature to be immortalized in some way and this opens the door for anyone seeking that.

As for me, I do find it helpful but hope I’m not alive when the AI’s rise against us!

I’ve never actually tried skeet shooting although I am a pretty good aim on the practice range. But that’s a stationary target.

I guess I just need to keep in mind that social media makes it easy for armchair activists to make noise. Some of my relatives post on FB about this or that current thing to be outraged about, like ten times a day. I got sick of it and unfollowed them.

[Patagonia]

I loved skeet shooting!!! Haven’t done it in yrs. I’ll do plates too lol.

Mentioned above about being “immortalized.” I totally agree. I love to hear people tell me of this “piece of writing they composed on FB about their view of...” blah blah blah & it took them hrs to write....or tried to discredit another’s view.
Does one really think that just their writing on a social media site will change the views of others like it’s being published in a scientific journal? Are they really that self absorbed? Yes, I think they are!
I read an article a few wks back & actually heard the same thing from a family member. They decided to “give up for Lent a social media site.” Wow, that must be painful for you to endure for 40 days.
My first issue is that it kind of belittles the meaning of Lent in general but second it also promotes the addiction quality of social media. Knowing that they will return to social media after the required time. Whew! That was a sacrifice! For some I know it’s a hardship, others a vacation but was there any soul searching going on during that time. I have no idea.
(My SO just told me he deleted his FB app off his phone. I guess I should be thankful, but I know most of his time is spent on his laptop so what’s the difference?)

I have no plans to be immortalized. I know my opinion is just that. Words. And soon forgotten. I am not a prophet, just matter taking up space...like this entry.
Carry on....

[pirilin]

I was too old at 21. I'm too young now at 68.

Originally Posted by Shazerac

I’ve been feeling like a cranky old lady lately. Maybe I have Old Fart Syndrome.

HA, just want you to know that you made me laugh.

I think a lot of people have that.

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I am SO proud of young people these days! If anything truly great has come from the weird times in which we live it has to be that the young ones are stepping up to the plate and taking action. My generation was so apathetic...it always made me feel uncomfortable.

Hmm. 1967 was the year that I was activated by Detroit. As 1968 roiled I became an activist (with the secret help of my dad).

I had always believed that once OFS wiggled in that I would only watch one news channel or that my more radical thoughts would be reined in. Hasn’t yet.

I’m proud of them, too. I think that OFS might creep in, unaware, sometimes, though, when I think, “ach! What does that kid know!” just as I’m wiggling to find a comfortable position in bed!