Sympathy for the Devil (Facebook)

I keep reading scary reports of people, well, scaring other people on Facebook. Therefore clever, well-meaning people are calling for a ‘Panic’ button to be installed in case a user feels threatened or intimidated while on the site (a good idea in my opinion, even though every time I see it I will be compelled to sing ‘Panic on the streets of Facebook’).

I just thought, while they’re at it, why not install a ‘Sympathy’ button at the same time?

I see so many friends’ statuses reading things like, ‘It’s all going wrong!!!’ (note the multiple exclamation marks for added sorrow). They don’t say what’s wrong, just that their life happens to suck today and they thought they’d share it with you and the hundred or so other people they’ve randomly added in their life.

If you check back on their status in a couple of hours you will always see their more well-meaning friends commenting things like, ‘Aw, what’s wrong, babe?’ or, ‘Don’t let it get you down, mate!’

Basically, the original poster just wanted sympathy. Fair enough. We all need a shoulder to cry on every now and again, or, even better, a hug. But why not be a little more honest about it?

With my proposed ‘Sympathy button’ all you have to do it press it and it will alert all three hundred of your friends that you need sympathy. Then, instead of commenting on your post/button press, there can be a second button marked, ‘Give Sympathy’ for your mates to press. And, hey presto, instant sympathy!

Oh, and by the way, I’m feeling a little bit down today – so if anyone reading this wants to send me all sorts of positive thoughts to my Facebook page, I’d be more than grateful, i.e. I might press ‘Like’ for your comments.