SMS
The view from the summit of Mt. Stupid is not what it seems to be.
Have you witnessed bad behavior on social media? Have you encountered people who think they are right all the time, and who have no hesitation in telling you that YOU are wrong? These people can provide some of your biggest interpersonal challenges.
Social Media Syndrome (SMS) is marked by persistent and regular antisocial behavior, defiance, anger and/or vindictiveness that mask an underlying cowardice. These are signs of a sociopathic personality disorder.
SOCIOPATH: A person who appears to have no conscience or empathy towards others. They are often incapable of guilt, remorse, or even basic concern for others and they are likely to lack the interpersonal awareness needed to control their emotional impulses.
COWARDICE
Social media platforms enable people to appear stronger and more powerful than they are by enabling them to post and comment without fear of retribution.
ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR
The person exhibits a pattern of disruption and aggression that is counterproductive to healthy social relationships. They are often hostile, aggressive, defiant, and deceitful without cause. They may become bullies, emotionally or physically abusive to others in their environment. They nearly always feel isolated as if they are the only person who is right. From their perspective, everyone else is wrong and they feel a need to berate other people and would like to force everyone else to adhere to their beliefs.
ARGUMENTATIVE AND DEFIANT BEHAVIOR
The person takes pleasure in annoying others and will look for ways to deliberately anger others. They also take no responsibility for their actions, and instead, often have a reason why their behavior is someone else's fault.
ANGER AND IRRITABILITY
The person can go from calm and rational to out of control with rage and anger in a matter of seconds. They also get easily annoyed by others and appear to have no patience with anyone else. They are also commonly filled with anger and exhibit resentful behavior for no apparent reason. It is also important to note they also experience these symptoms quite frequently.
VINDICTIVENESS
The person has no respect for the feelings of others. They are frequently spiteful and tend not to exhibit signs of remorse for their behavior.
SOCIOPATH: A person who appears to have no conscience or empathy towards others. They are often incapable of guilt, remorse, or even basic concern for others and they are likely to lack the interpersonal awareness needed to control their emotional impulses.
COWARDICE
Social media platforms enable people to appear stronger and more powerful than they are by enabling them to post and comment without fear of retribution.
ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR
The person exhibits a pattern of disruption and aggression that is counterproductive to healthy social relationships. They are often hostile, aggressive, defiant, and deceitful without cause. They may become bullies, emotionally or physically abusive to others in their environment. They nearly always feel isolated as if they are the only person who is right. From their perspective, everyone else is wrong and they feel a need to berate other people and would like to force everyone else to adhere to their beliefs.
ARGUMENTATIVE AND DEFIANT BEHAVIOR
The person takes pleasure in annoying others and will look for ways to deliberately anger others. They also take no responsibility for their actions, and instead, often have a reason why their behavior is someone else's fault.
ANGER AND IRRITABILITY
The person can go from calm and rational to out of control with rage and anger in a matter of seconds. They also get easily annoyed by others and appear to have no patience with anyone else. They are also commonly filled with anger and exhibit resentful behavior for no apparent reason. It is also important to note they also experience these symptoms quite frequently.
VINDICTIVENESS
The person has no respect for the feelings of others. They are frequently spiteful and tend not to exhibit signs of remorse for their behavior.
STEPS TO DEAL WITH SOMEONE WHO SUFFERS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA SYNDROME
Consider viewing your interactions with others as a way of improving and increasing YOUR own emotional awareness.
1. Put the mirror to yourself before you conclude the other person is at fault. People who constantly try to show that they’re right and that you’re wrong will naturally make you feel defensive. It’s possible that there’s a germ of truth to what you’re hearing, so try to decide if perhaps you’re the one who needs to change.
2. Don’t get rattled. It is certainly aggravating to have to defend your own viewpoints and preferences in the face of continued opposition. However, if you show that you can be emotionally aware by controlling your own reactions, you can set a good example for other people participating in the social media based discussion.
3. Recognize that the individual’s behavior stems from a number of deficiencies and a lack of emotional awareness. Understanding the role of emotional awareness in interpersonal relationships is the first step toward dealing with people who lack it.
4. Accept the fact that you will never be able to change the opinion of someone who is unwilling to even consider information that contradicts their beliefs. The word ignore-ant is often mispronounced. It is impossible to debate someone who ignores new information. They may be highly intelligent, but they choose to be ignore-ant.
5. Psychologists are loath to recommend avoidance as the solution to a problem, but where sociopathy is concerned, avoidance is actually the optimal course. Whether violent or not, sociopaths live outside of the social contract that binds the rest of us, are uniquely destructive, and do not want to engage in authentic relationships. Their sole preoccupation is to have power over other people.
Consider viewing your interactions with others as a way of improving and increasing YOUR own emotional awareness.
1. Put the mirror to yourself before you conclude the other person is at fault. People who constantly try to show that they’re right and that you’re wrong will naturally make you feel defensive. It’s possible that there’s a germ of truth to what you’re hearing, so try to decide if perhaps you’re the one who needs to change.
2. Don’t get rattled. It is certainly aggravating to have to defend your own viewpoints and preferences in the face of continued opposition. However, if you show that you can be emotionally aware by controlling your own reactions, you can set a good example for other people participating in the social media based discussion.
3. Recognize that the individual’s behavior stems from a number of deficiencies and a lack of emotional awareness. Understanding the role of emotional awareness in interpersonal relationships is the first step toward dealing with people who lack it.
4. Accept the fact that you will never be able to change the opinion of someone who is unwilling to even consider information that contradicts their beliefs. The word ignore-ant is often mispronounced. It is impossible to debate someone who ignores new information. They may be highly intelligent, but they choose to be ignore-ant.
5. Psychologists are loath to recommend avoidance as the solution to a problem, but where sociopathy is concerned, avoidance is actually the optimal course. Whether violent or not, sociopaths live outside of the social contract that binds the rest of us, are uniquely destructive, and do not want to engage in authentic relationships. Their sole preoccupation is to have power over other people.
6. DO NOT comment on their posts. That only feeds the algorithm that in turn encourages their psychopathic behavior.
The most advisable and least dangerous course of action is to avoid such people altogether.
Unfriend or unfollow them and move along with your life.
Unfriend or unfollow them and move along with your life.
