Unkindness everywhere!!

Yes I prob should delete a few groups. I just find the whole blame culture and finger pointing so hypocritical. We can only police our own behaviour, so why people continue to post berating the elderly, single mums, walkers etc is beyond me.
People just assume the worst and judge too harshly.
Takes nothing to be kind. If you don't like or agree with something, scroll by, don't add to the persons distress by being horrible to them.
Everyone is fighting their own battles.

But Social media can become an addiction, You constantly need to check another site, read more about something. Corvid-19 is the kind of subject that can quickly pull soomeone, especially if they are anxious about the subject to always want to check just one more site, just check the current death rate, how many have died in the past hour I became a bit like that myself in the fortnight before the shutdown when things were moving and changing so much. In the end I got myself away from my desk out in the garden, out of the house, busy sewing until I could come back in and ration my viewing.

There are loads of reasons why people turn to social media, seeking connection, like minded people, a sounding board , lonely and so on.

I have found a lot of posts on Facebook to keep up my spirits - I only follow my friends and family, andsites where I know there are interesting things to be seen. You can choose not to see any more posts from anyone whose choice of things to say you don't like.

Even cancer related health forums get infiltrated by trolls unfortunately and the current situation gives them so much opportunity to exercise their sick twisted minds. Last thing you need following a cancer diagnosis.

After a while you get to know who is likely to be rude or bullying and you can just scroll past their input.

Fortunately our local groups have been very helpful and going all out to help those who are in need but my first experience of a troll was a serious learning curve that ended with threatening behaviour and an official police warning.

We have heard that some local wannabe burglars thought now would be a good time to break in to people’s homes just as we were all being told to stay at home! Plonkers!

There is also kindness everywhere.

People are checking up on family and neighbours and asking if they need anything.

There is a nationwide initiative by what used to be called the WRVS to recruit volunteers to phone those who can't go out at all, to get essentials for them, to drive people to appointments and so on, whuch had thousands of volunteers on the first day it was open.

In my area and others, people are putting rainbows in their windows for children to look for when they are out for a walk, and elsewhere it is teddybears.

Avoid looking at social network sites if they distress you, though there is so much support and cheerfulness on Gransnet that I would say the occasional snippy post is overshadowed by the many friendly ones. Concentrate instead on the good things that are happening, like those I mentioned.

I only use FB to keep in touch with family and all my Independence groups .Anything else I scroll past.Reading all the mind numbing rubbish is the way to send you mad very quickly.
Try to limit use of it for people you want to keep in touch with and just a few minutes morning and evening.
I do spend time msging on FB to my son and daughter ,usually at 1am when she cant sleep and wants someone to chat to when her OH is working away .
Thats one thing thats disappeared due to lockdown..he has no work as all his contracts have been cancelled so he's at home full time for a change

Why go on social media if it is causing you so much distress?

Ration it. Look at the news a couple of times a day and only read social media like GN. perhaps Facebook, but just your family and friends and only a couple of times a day.

Find other things to occupy your mind and hands.

Alternatively why not give social media a miss for a while? Is there something about the sites that you use? I'm on various sites including Twitter Facebook and GN and what I read seems absolutely fine. On GN there are threads I just don't look at and some posters that I avoid but it's mostly OK and pretty pleasant really.

Social Media is running riot and is binary. I don't wish to add to your distress but have you considered trying a few session with a counsellor ( on the phone or digitally)
I don't think you will find much nurture and care in the digital world.

Sadly on most forums now and social media.

So sorry, where do you mean? Where is nasty....can you avoid such " conversations"

Greymar, it's a non starter obv with the children. I just cant fathom how it works that we continue to do our job but sacrifice seeing our loved ones.
The nastiness and lack of empathy tho is just awful.

Oh dear, that is indeed a heavy load to carry. The world has gone mad, how can little one do social distancing. It is untennable and unsafe. We need very clear and absolute guidelines. Not this half and half thing.