When Did Ridiculing Others Become a Popular Sport?

So, who hasn't seen the listing of the artist's house in Richmond, Texas that has been making the rounds on social media this past week? 

Although admittedly, my first instinct was "WTH?" I admit, after looking at the photos a few times, I thought the house was sort of cool in a cluttered, artistic kind of way.  I didn't give it too much thought at first, but then it started showing up everywhere, accompanied by a number of less than complimentary comments. 

Criticism of the home owner, her taste, her belongings and even her agent (who must be INCOMPETENT, if the indignant comments were to be believed) were all over social media this week. 

And it started to really bother me and make me think about who we are as a society. 

After all, this IS someone's home and regardless of what we think, making fun of someone's home isn't cool, although it certainly has seemed to have become quite the sport over the years. 

I admit, over the years, I, too,  have groaned over some of the "hideous" listing photos, cringed at the frightening doll collections and probably commented, too, until I realized it really wasn't funny.

Sometimes it's just downright cruel.  And aren't we better than that? Rather, shouldn't we be?  

When did making fun of people become such sport?  And while this certainly doesn't rise to the level of depraved indifference as did the tragedy in Cocoa, FL this week, it isn't anything to be proud of, either.  It may seem harmless, but to me it chips away at our humanity when we fail to see there is a human being behind every one of these photos we so eagerly and so publicly trash, without any consideration. 

Sure, I'm as grossed out by filth and clutter as the next person, but when I started thinking about it, I decided (a) it's not really any of my business; (b) people can live however they wish although I sincerely hope no animals or children are subjected to some of the conditions I have seen and (c) some of these people may be seriously in need of social services intervention instead of internet-wide ridicule. 

Yes, some of the writing on blog posts that focus on poking fun at people's homes is sharp and quick witted, but I also find it, well, kind of cruel.  I may be in the minority, though, judging from how many people laud these writers as just downright hilarious.  I guess as I get older I don't find as much humor in making fun of others as I did when I was a lot younger. 

Do I cringe at some of what I see people do to their homes?  Of course, but this steady rush of ridicule all over social media has been a big turn off for me. 

I won't pretend to understand why some people feel the need to make themselves feel better by pointing out the perceived failures of others - and again, I've definitely been guilty of it in the past, so I am taking my lumps here, too - but with social media in the picture, it has taken on a life of its own and I don't think it reflects well on us at all. 

I know the next time I see something like this and am tempted to add my $.02, I'm going to stop and consider this is someone's life and we have no idea what is going on in it.  

 

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