"Hope everyone is okay"

[DancingFerret]

I'm sure I'll be accused of being harsh, but I fail to see the value of comments like this underneath reports of accidents, especially road accidents.

Psychopaths aside, it's human nature to hope people aren't too badly injured or even dead, so why state the obvious? (Obviously, IRL I'd offer sympathy in person to anyone telling me about their involvement in an accident.)

OK

So why would you be stating the obvious in IRL then ?
Your logic is flawed.

Is this on social media mostly? I agree that it can come across as false by some people , but others might like the sentiment and want to talk about it.

I sort of get this. My mum always makes a big performance when there's a terrible story on the news. Sort of awwing and aaahing and isn't that terrible, calling murderers bastards and the likes, and it annoys me because there's no need: obviously it's terrible, you don't need to be performative about it. None of us are sitting there thinking it's a good thing that someone was stabbed, and alI bet she doesn't carry on like that when there's no one else around.

Jesus. People just want to say something, that’s the best they can think of. Everyone probably isn’t okay but they’re allowed to hope things are. You’re not being harsh, it’s just a stupid thing to criticise.

Hope you’re okay

🤭

It's just people being kind, op

I think that the worst is when someone gets sick or dies, that has been bullied and targeted by people

Then the bullies start saying 'oh hope they're okay', 'oh rip'

🤢🤢

Generally you find that sort of comment is left by one of the following:

1. Someome (usually but not always of an older generation) who comments on every post on that page.
2. Someone feeling genuinely upset to hear about it and are sincere in their thoughts
3. Soneone commenting purely to make sure they get notifications and see the updates
4. “The Performer” - that person in the local group that acts like they’re everyone’s friend and that pull do anything for anyone whereas reality is usually different.

Not flawed at all; if I'm face-to-face with someone telling me about something upsetting in their life, I have no problem with offering sympathy and saying I hope they'll make a good recovery, etc.

Commenting to no-one in particular in response to an online newspaper article or SM post just doesn't make sense to me. Of course I hope people are okay; I just don't feel the need to take up column inches or bandwidth to say so.

People are just expressing their emotional response. It's one type of natural response.

Loads of things humans do are 'pointless' other than being about feeling connected to other humans.

Social media has turned us all into weirdos. From the “Hope everyone is okay” to the “need gone” and back to the “Happy Birthday to my lovely great great great granny who would have been 245 today”

But then how is that different to all the unnecessary bandwidth munching threads on MN?

It’s just today’s world. That’s all ☺️ We seem to think out loud these days. Me included!

Edited to add that LinkedIn is MUCH worse. It’s so bad I deleted my account.

Different strokes for different folks, I'd say, @DancingFerret.

I see posts like this on my local FB page, and whilst I don't tend to make the same comment, I can understand why other people do. I am thinking the same thing that they are saying - hoping everyone is OK/no-one is badly hurt - the only difference is they are saying it, and I can't see a problem with that. Column inches and bandwidth aren't a valuable, limited resource, and if it comforts them to comment, I think that's fine.

But equally, it is your right to roll your eyes at it - the world would be a dull place indeed if we all thought the same way.

How do you know that some of the family members of the potential victims or casualties are not reading the comments looking for precisely that: sympathy ? Not every one has a shoulder to cry on.
You are being utterly petty.

I agree. Local FB posts (usually by anonymous member) who says "Did anyone else see the ambulance and police cars up the end of the High St at 2am? What was happening? I hope everyone is ok 😒". It's faux sympathy to disguise the fact they're a proper nosey parker and just want the gory details.

“There are 3 air ambulances and a fleet of police cars on the road near xxxtown. I do hope nobody’s hurt….”

Complete agree.

It's as bad as 'thoughts and prayers'.
That sounds pious and teeth-grittingly twee.
Honest people would say 'i'm nosey, keep me updated', or 'i really don't give a shiny shit and why are you plastering this all over SM?"