Anyone who’s stayed long enough in the digital social space has come across online drama. Two or more individuals duke it out online through a bunch of keyboard mashing to find out who’s right, or to see if one can change the other person’s opinion. A lot of it ends up being blown out of proportion and then nobody is happy.

I wouldn’t have an issue with this if it wasn’t in every online social space I go to. It’s rampant. Most of the drama doesn’t even really matter all that much. Often, just people who felt personally attacked and decided it’d be nice for themselves to share it to the public. Keyword here is themselves.

I come to online social spaces to cool off, not to hear about someone’s recent fiasco and then get semi-riled up as well internally. I understand emotions can be hard to control. However, it’s important to distinguish that there is a time and place for things, which many do not understand online.

A public server, for instance, is not a place to go on call and voice grievances to a bunch of people you barely know. Unless it’s a place specifically designed for that. People who do this often overlook how it affects those around them, and whether or not those people signed up to hear it.

It should be made clear that it’s okay to be upset and share it with other people, though consideration is key. Keep it private with your close friends, and if you do want to take it to the digital public, consider whether it’ll bring down anyone else’s mood. Ask if it’s okay first, and if not then find another place.

The internet is vast and never-ending and there are plenty of social spaces that do allow for this sort of discussion to be shared amongst strangers.

This is a message about reading the room. Please do consider it if not already. It can affect those exposed to external online drama too much as well, and over time, can lead to exhaustion. How would you feel if everywhere you went to relax left you feeling exhausted?