JOMO vs FOMO

I was reading an article earlier this week which suggested that JOMO (joy of missing out) is the new FOMO (fear of missing out), the theory being that we are now all taking a break from social activities, particularly social media and rather than worrying about missing the ‘latest thing’, we ought to hunker down at home and just enjoy being cosy. Who can argue with that? It’s winter, it’s dark at 4pm and our homes are lovely and toasty-warm with any luck. Hibernating till April sounds great. And yet, and yet. I’ve been following the Harry & Meghan affair just like you and this is not remotely about being on anyone’s team but looking at the amount of vitriol being directed at the couple, I just wonder how much of that stuff the writers of such vicious comments would say to their faces as opposed to anonymously abusing them, egged on by the media. We are all becoming so disconnected from one another, head down staring at our phones, buds in, shutting out the world and other people. Being a contrarian, I believe that if anything we should all socialise a lot more and spend less time alone. Then we might realise that it’s actually OK for others to disagree with us without all protagonists descending to playground level.

Mob rule is always alarming and we’ve already had nearly 4 years of Brexit polarisation; the bullying extravaganza aimed at Harry & Meghan is frankly astonishing. It follows the textbook bully’s pattern. First they tell you how rubbish you are. If you don’t fold and /or attempt suicide, that is a sign of your feeling entitled or being arrogant. Then you get subjected to a barrage of outright lies and the bully tries to enlist everyone you know on their side. When you complain and get upset, they then hint at your ‘mental health issues’ and suggest you are delusional and imagining the abuse. Should you be under 30, the word ‘snowflake’ will be applied. Anyone who attempts to stick up for the victim will receive the same treatment. Why? Because the victim has to acquiesce so that the bully may be justified – “look what you made me do”. From what I can see, Harry’s sole crime is marrying Meghan and not being fixed in amber as an 18-year old ‘cheeky chappie’. Meghan’s crimes however are legion! They include:

• wearing dark nail polish
• cradling/touching her pregnancy bump ‘too often’, something which no other woman has ever done since time began
• touching her hair
• wearing her hair up, or indeed, down, as the case may be
• crossing her legs
• making the decision to isolate herself from family/friends/old school mates/ anyone she ever met, whom she believes to be toxic
• Staying in the country: we all hate her
• Leaving the country: we all hate her
• giving speeches. And no, you didn’t go to bed and wake up in 1720
• smiling too much and therefore being fake
• having found herself married into the richest family in the world (and yes they are, no matter what the Rich List says), spending money on clothes like a drunken sailor. We would all be totally abstemious if we were in her position, buying our clothes solely from car boot sales
• and my personal favourite – opening a car door by herself!!!

Well, what an absolute cow! Has the actual world gone completely bonkers? Meghan may indeed be a manipulative, narcissistic, moneygrubbing harridan. Or she may be an actual angel sent by God himself to make the world a better place. I don’t know, I’ve never met her. But that’s the point, neither have any of these people. I bet pretty much all of us have gone through the experience of people ganging up on us. Not nice was it? Now magnify it a million fold. Absolutely terrifying thought, wouldn’t you agree? To think we have a right to tell people what to say, what to wear, when to smile or be sad, when they can speak, who to befriend or dislike – because we ‘pay for them’. The next time a boss tells someone to wear a low-cut top, red lipstick, a short skirt and high heels at all times and smile, smile, smile because after all he/she pays you and it’s better for the company’s profit margin, I hope there won’t be any cries of outrage. You know who gets dictated to in this manner? Children and slaves. And even children grow up and go their merry way eventually. Stand up to the bullies, the animals in human cloth; you know my motto – Live free, or die trying. JOMO? I need to get out more to remind myself that other people are not avatars, they are flesh and blood, they’re imperfect, they have feelings. To brighten your week, below is the picture of a baby who’s had a TOWIE makeover courtesy of his older sister. Thank God for children. Have a wonderful week.