I Feel So Guilty!

Is it just me? Could it be "just me?" How can this happen?

I read an essay. I like a comment. I give it a thumbs up.

I'm the first one to do so.

And what do I see there in front of me? A little note that says, "Just you voted." And I feel lost and alone.

Why has no one else voted? Is this comment really stupid and I just haven't seen through it? Am I really stupid to have upped the thumb for it? Does the site owner think I'm an idiot and is giving me a little jab. "Yo, don't be an idiot. You're the only one who has voted for this. Didn't you ask yourself, 'Why am I the only one who has voted for this?' Maybe you should."

My insecurity grows by leaps and bounds. I keep looking over my shoulder as I read. My cats stare at me accusingly, then turn their heads in disdain. I am nothing. My delight at a comment is ridiculed, mocked, poked fun at. "Just you voted."

I am drowned in drafts of doom. With horrible thoughts am I hacked into hanks, pierced with the press of pointed, pinioned barbs.

Pardon me whilst I go drown myself in the bathtub.

(Hey! I thought to myself, "self, what this site needs is a little levity!" And self said, "Worry not, for this I can'st provide. I doth bequeath unto thee humour most terrible in its glory. And it pokes fun at a thing about the site that does, most actually, bother us just a jot." Why, this is just the ticket! I thought, and behold, it is published.)

You may'st now thank me, oh grateful throng!

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pfiore8's picture

whilst . . . something elegant about it.

but don't drown yourself just yet . . . vote for Bernie or Jill Stein first!

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“There are moments which are not calculable, and cannot be assessed in words; they live on in the solution of memory… ”
― Lawrence Durrell, "Justine"

Arrow's picture

Only I voted....I'm such a fool.

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I want a Pony!

kharma's picture

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There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams

jimpost's picture

Betcha booties, I shall!

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The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

I get a popup that says "You just voted; now go away" : )

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"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"

riverlover's picture

And it may conclude by "only you voted". Weird or a leader or someone who read first. There are uncertainties about.

And you (or me) will Never Know for sure until thumbs up numbers come in. Win some, lose some.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

you that said, "Be nice to me, I voted today".

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There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.

riverlover's picture

has interior decoration of "I voted" stickers. Long practice. Several cars.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

jimpost's picture

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The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

I also make an effort to comment in essays that have no comments. Everyone who posts a comment or an essay here is making a contribution and that should be acknowledged. I don't want anyone to feel left out or ignored.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

riverlover's picture

we as humans crave acknowledgement of our existence. My new dog already exhibits canine symptoms by going outside and vocalizing to all things within hearing range. AFAIK, dogs can't read or keyboard. except on the innertubes.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

jimpost's picture

you do dogs a disservice. Of course they can read! Hells, my cats go through my mail alla time.

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The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

riverlover's picture

She's too busy ripping mail to shreds to read it.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

When you do tip the boneheaded comment at least nobody knows it was you.

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“The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us”
― Voltaire

Alison Wunderland's picture

My little popup just reads "Bwahahahahaaha!"

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gulfgal98's picture

that is because you are a marmelade making varmint. Wink

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

seefleur's picture

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be working?" So now I feel even more guilty that I voted.

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Think off-center.
George Carlin

jimpost's picture

how do they know these things about us?!

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The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

hecate's picture

Science Men routinely demonstrate that humans will bend their behavior to secure tips, and likes, and thumbs-up, and hugs. On the tubes, and in real life. Then there is the "bystander effect." Humans look to other humans to determine how to act. So, if nobody moves to do anything, then everybody will continue to do nothing. This manifests in situtations ranging from hesitating to give somebody's comment a thumbs-up, if there are no thumbs-up already there, to hesitating to fetch some water, when a person is on fire, if nobody else has already gone for the water. Once the thumbs-up start accumulating, however, then, the more there are, the more everyone feels compelled to add one. As, once the water is splashed, the more it is splashed, the more everyone feels compelled to grab a bucket.

Herd animals.

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Ajaradom's picture

thee is kinda silly, but cute, as well. Smile

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jimpost's picture

shucks. Just doing my best to brighten up a few people's day!

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The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

Bollox Ref's picture

should you so choose.

You don't want 'private messages' asking why you didn't plug a diary after leaving a comment.

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Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

It's a mixed blessing.

I don't usually have a lot to say beyond "Right On" and that gets old. I sort of dig being able to say "I read this and approve!" with a single mouse click.

Of course nobody ever nagged me for my approval either.

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jimpost's picture

I never got any of those in my coupla years at "that other place."

Else I would have left much sooner!

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The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

Bisbonian's picture

told me that it was because of my vote that Trump got elected.

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

jimpost's picture

Now you, you I like!

BTW, I interviewed Seeger back in the early 80s for a little entertainment rag. Very, very cool human being. He's influenced me a lot over the years.

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The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

Bisbonian's picture

and am truly sorry about that. His work, his songs, his cabin, his firewood, his boat...all have influenced me. I built my own banjo (as he did), a copy of one he got from Frank Proffitt, and finished it on his 89th Birthday.

I'll bet I like you too.

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X