Up on a soapbox

Life can be hard at times, so why do we put ourselves out there to endure more strife?

I'm talking about extending through the portal of the web and putting our lives online, via messageboards.

It can be cathartic.

It can be liberating.

It can be fun.

You begin to feel as though you are a part of something, you have reached out and in the process made contact with people you'd never meet in your every day life. They have like interests. You begin to share things you're used to talking about with your best friend over a cup of coffee. You open up and sometimes put your heart out there because you've come to trust most of these "friends".

But then, like real life, they start dumping on you. Maybe someone doesn't like your turn of phrase or they misinterpreted your post. Maybe they are the ones having a bad day and decide that with the anonymity the board provides, they have the power to spew hate & discontent. Perhaps, like the schoolyard bullies of old, there are just people who get their kicks from being meanies.

So why continue to post? For me, I think it's out of boredom. I'm usually traveling a lot for work and can't get online during most of those trips. On the days when I'm in the office and there's not much going on, I'll hop online to see what's shaking the boards. Sometimes there's happy news - the birth of a child, a promotion. Other times there's sadness. It's just like life, only we don't actually hug each other when we're happy or sympathizing. There truly are friendships built there. And destroyed.

The choice is up to each of us, as in real life.