Jeffrey Ramos4 said:Look, the issue isn't about having different opinions; it's about why this hits you so personally. Why get so defensive when nobody is trying to force their views on you? They’re just trying to make sense of how worked up you're getting over this. In friendships, people often expect more from others than they are willing to offer themselves. Sure, it would be ideal to truly step into a friend's shoes. A lot of people act out of habit or without thinking things through, but we shouldn't judge until we've walked a mile in their boots. Here's a real-life example. My only true, long-term friend—who, ironically, I met through this very online community—stood by me even when her closest family wasn't there. I value her time and devotion immensely. On my end, I try to be there for her as much as I can. But I also have my low points where I just can't give 100% mentally, and I'm honest with her about that. She has her own life, too—her partner, her kid—so I understand her side.
What I see constantly is people starting from a place of expectation rather than contribution. They want something from others instead of giving what they can. It all stems from a failure, or perhaps an inability, to empathize with where the other person is coming from. Plus, in the world we live in today, everywhere from the news to our schools, empty values are pushed constantly, and it's easy to fall for them. The frantic, rushed pace of modern life also makes it hard for people to socialize as much as they'd like. People are working so hard just to keep their heads above water that they barely have time for quality moments with their families, unfortunately...
Wait a second. It looks like a few people over the last couple of pages have just been throwing around quotes—as if that’s a substitute for an actual point.
Where there's a will, there's a way—but if you aren't looking for one, you'll always find an excuse instead. The way this is translated—it’s basically an indirect jab at us. It implies we're just some heartless, rude, or uncultured bunch simply because we don't have the time to sit around at a local pub or get wasted every single weekend just to prove we belong.
Maybe I should just stay quiet when things like this come up.
Serious allegations. So, these are coordinated insults—not just from one guy, but a whole group. And now they’re trying to play the victim and justify themselves? Honestly, all I can do is laugh. It’s cynical, sure, but what else is there? People really don't think before they speak. I have never once asked for an excuse in my life, nor will I ever—everything I do is based on logic and a legitimate reason. Who do they think they are, trying to indirectly lecture me with those ridiculous, passive-aggressive quotes? That’s exactly what this is. I don't know what kind of people they're used to—people who let them say stuff like this publicly without consequence—but I’m not some pushover who’s going to sit quietly while being insulted for no reason. Just because these people have nothing better to do than jump around aimlessly for 8 to 12 hours a day doesn't mean everyone else should follow their lead. If you actually have 8 to 12 hours of free time every single day to waste on nothing, you should be smart enough to realize that's a luxury. You have the freedom to submit to anyone, anytime; you shouldn't expect the rest of us to bend to your whims just because half your day is useless. And they actually have the nerve to say this stuff out loud. How am I supposed to react to that level of stupidity? As for that "570,000 hours" figure—do the math. Subtract seven hours of sleep every night, subtract the first four years of your life spent just figuring out how to exist as a kid, and you won't be anywhere near 570,000. That's assuming you even start at the average and aren't starting well below it.
If this bothers you, your only options are to bury your head in the sand and cry in a corner. On the bright side—at least a few people have already laid it out clearly for you in the last couple of comments.