Play Nicely

I’m tired of mean-spirited snark.

It exhausts me, and I find it completely adolescent – and frankly a big fat ugly smokescreen for self-loathing.

Now, I’m not saying I don’t enjoy a little good-natured ribbing at times. Both directed at me, and what I’ll toss around myself. But I just can’t get behind blatant bitchiness disguised as humor.

It’s not funny.  And if you giggle (internally or out loud in the world) to yourself after delivering a remark and you’re the only one smiling, could you please take a damn hint.

You know the difference. Snark that’s funny, and everyone’s laughing, including the person onto whom it’s lobbed vs. the kind that makes you feel a little uncomfortable – even if you secretly feel the same way about the intended target.

And to be clear, some of my favorite people are filled with kind snark (I just made that up, but I’m sure it’s real) – and they know they’re on-point. They own it. They know where the line is and they stay on the good-guy side. And then there are the folks who can’t figure out why they’re the only one smiling. Or maybe they don’t wonder, because you have to be self-aware to understand.

If you play  nicely with others, you probably don’t need a shirt to scream it to the world, but I still smile when I see them on the street.

If you don’t – please just STFU.