So much has been said about the whatsapp group dynamics & non-sense that everyone generally puts up with. We are social animals after all. So we stay in some groups to be 'politically right' - be it family politics or office politics and we stay in some groups inspite of the odd nutcases who spoil the otherwise fun group...
Even if I gave up on being social/political, apparently there are office mandates on being available on WA!
& then ofcourse, there is the torture of the in-law who will only video call & the parent who will only send a ton of non-sensical forwards! As much as I love them both, I wish they hadn't discovered this app!
Im so tired of all these antics... & I don't see a solution to get out of this mess to catch some peace. I gave up on fb because of precisely these stupid games of pretense that were using up my energy & now Im stuck in that same whirlpool!
Finally, when I decide on putting up with all this in some sort of clinical way, Im reminded of exactly why no amount of tolerance will help.
One of my best friends that I met up with last Feb asked me the same question he always does - 'why dont you respond in the group?'. What I wanted to say was 'what I say never matters and anyway you dont have too much tolerance for messages that dont meet your high standards'. What I ended up saying was '. 'I do respond in the group' - with a smile he understood. He said 'Happy birthday doesnt count'! So I tried my diplomacy hat - 'I dont know if what I say matches with the thought process of others'. & he said 'so what?! its a group. You should speak your mind'. So supportive... but I somehow felt an uneasiness I couldnt explain.
Fast forward a few weeks, I started responding more & every time I did, there was a comment from my dear supportive friend.
And so last week there was this thread, that I picked up keeping in mind his 'advice' - & lo & behold, he passes his opinion on my comment yet again. By opinion - its a subtle suggestion on how my comment is inaccurate in some sense. I wanted to respond 'Im so sorry my opinion did not match yours' but the whatsapp diplomacy kicked in as I responded with a simple 'you are right'. I foresaw my overthinking self if I did not allow for the diplomatic answer and chose peace over that. However, I made a note yet again to myself & I did vow - AGAIN, never to be fooled by 'advice'!
Meanwhile, I have disabled all notifications on groups as I try and bargain on some peace. Mom & I crib about the insanity of it all - For once old & older agree we think :) Enough fodder for Midnight conversations with Mom. 'yeah right! Nostradamus said so!'
