Warning: Contains references to unattractive bodily functions.
Where do we draw the lines at privacy and not fall on the side of oversharing?
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Blogging are just one of the many platforms available for us to share our world and our thoughts. Oh look! I woke up 2.9 seconds before my usual time – MUST INFORM THE WORLD! Or yay! I am having beer/whiskey/wine/water – MUST PUT IT UP WITH A COOL CAPTION! Insignificant, irrelevant and involving absolutely no one else, there is a serious epidemic of narcissism out there.
Flip side now. In private conversations, how comfortable are we talking about morbid topics or where does the line on morbidity is drawn for each one of us? For example, I am totally cool with (and in fact even enjoy) conversations involving poop. Probably because I love to show off my super awesome body clock and timing of bowel movements (all done and dusted within ten minutes of waking up). A bunch of friends and I were comparing notes on how long we take to do our business. And a couple of us shared our mutual joy at the satisfaction drawn when in a matter of seconds, our bowels cleanse themselves. With another group, we drew grimaces with the standard lines of “Gross” “Yuck” yada yada.
All comes down to the line.
But c’mon! If we are with friends and you accidentally release gas from your rear end, would you squirm uncomfortably or just laugh it off and move on with your life. Is the line drawn the same for all the people or differs based on your relationships? Or if after a long night with your new born who refuses to stop throwing up, would you confide in the stranger sitting next to you on the subway that you were too knackered to change out of your soiled sweatpants? (Actually, I wouldn’t mind doing that just to see the reaction of that person!! 😀 *makes mental note*)
I can understand that when it comes to more serious issues, most of us have set our limits. But for small things, why is there that discomfort? Why do I need to request a female stranger for an extra tampon when my best friend who is incidentally a guy is right there to go and pick it up for me? In such cases, I guess it is not just the personal block but more like a societal norm. But that is so stifling! These so -called morbid issues can work as a real ice-breaker… set the ball rolling at times. And even serious issues – I think most of us have a story to share where strangers have been kind to us in those moments of deep grievous trouble as well.
On one hand, social media has made us virtually naked. On the other hand, in reality there are still major bumps with minor things labelled “TMI” (I hate these acronyms – TMI, FYI, BTW). I cannot think of a cool ending for this post, so okay. And they lived happily ever after.
It is Saturday and Linda over at Stream of Consciousness Saturday is making us talk on “information” or whatever that may lead to 🙂 Take a look!
Talk to me about limits and definition of “Too Much Information”…. Where/When do you draw the line? Feel free 🙂 No squirming here!
An Armchair Perfectionist 