Flightless Words

Since having started my two week midyear (study) break, all I have been wanting to do is to complete the seven incomplete drafts saved in my blog account.

After looking at each of the drafts, I realized it's going to take more than one hour per post to decipher the individual notes I'd made under each post. This can be attributed to the fact that I've been trying to write two posts at once, which leads to my brain reaching a point where it is unable to brain any further, and to the fact that it's been difficult trying to formulate actual sentences from the notes I've made during study breaks. I mean, what on earth am I supposed to make of 'Atholl Fugard, Miskien, sparse setting'?

In the past two and a half hours, I have jumped from misogyny (I can feel the eye-roll of the internet) to Absurdism, to birthdays, to the cycle of judgment, to franchising and book-burning (eye-rolls from my Twitter and Facebook). On top of that, I've got my mother yelling domestic chores and kitchen duties at me, followed immediately by her doing the actual tasks and then giving me the usual "How-Are-You-Going-To-Run-Your-Own-Household-Your-Children-Will-Starve-Who-Will-Marry-You-Your-Mother-In-Law-Will-Think-I-Didn't-Bring-You-Up-Properly" speech. Followed by the "You-Need-To-Study" closing argument.

Just one question I'd like to ask before the topic becomes stale:

Why has South African Twitter become a burnbook?

Times like these make me yearn for pre-2010 when Twitter was undiscovered and I could Tweet all about Harry Potter without being chirped by my friends about it. People say offensive things on the internet constantly. It appears, though, that those who have raised certain 'Twalebs' to their social media status are now the ones lighting the flame of the Roast. This can all be summed into two, Twitter speech, words: No Chill.

Ironically, by creating hate-induced trending topics, more hype is created, centered around the person. They then actually become famous - i.e.: beyond Twitter - and efforts to reduce their popularity has basically backfired and their social media pages are now doubling in hits.

Find your inner chill, go to their profile and click "Unfollow". Unfollows speak louder than trending topics!

I had so much more to say about my passion for writing, how much I miss Afrikaans, English and Drama and how I plan to make my true theatre debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but my mother just gave me another "How-Will-You-Prepare-Your-Sehris-When-You're-Married" speech and has sent me to go prep for tomorrow morning. Just a few more words without wings, I suppose.

This isn't a Subtweet, not really...

Nymeria of Rhoyne

We are under a day short of being halfway through the year and this scares me. Seriously, where have these six months gone? Oh yes, I've spent them either procrastinating or "studying" (see staring at my textbook with a blank expression, thinking of Nymeria of Rhoyne).

On the plus side I am currently on a four week holiday, during which I intend to increase my reading time, sleeping time and cooking time. The last one is because I love food and I'm tired of relying on my mom to make my favourite dishes for me - not because I'm trying to impress a boy or his mother for marriage purposes. Yeah boys, WE LIKE SANDWICHES TOO.

I tried my best to minimize my social media usage for the last few months now and control my addiction. Quite frankly, it sucked. Cold turkey methods do NOT work. Don't try this at home, kids; the withdrawal symptoms just worsen your condition. 

During the time I spent trying to avoid Twitter, I pondered on why we publish our thoughts on a public platform such as Twitter or a blog. Is it purely to express our creativity or a need to stroke our egos with affirmation from others? Why is a tweet only as good as the number of retweets it gets, or an account as prominent as the number of followers it has? Is what we think not good enough for ourselves that we have to seek affirmation? 

There's a week and a day left till my twenty-first birthday and I'm quite happy to be celebrating this milestone during the month of Ramadhaan. Speaking of Ramadhaan and my Twitter addiction; over the last two and a half years (i.e.: the time when people began to believe my rants about Twitter being amazing), I have noticed two 'types' of Muslims on Twitter. These types tend to come out during this month in particular; the cynical types that hate on Ramadhaan Muslims and the self-righteous types that hate on those who aren't Ramadhaan Muslims. 

In respect of the cynics who won't stop subtweeting that Muslim girl with a hijab avatar during Ramadhaan; I cannot deal with their judgement. This judgement of people who are, in their own way, trying to make a positive change in their lives; even it is for a short period. At least they're trying. Also, Ramadhaan is a wonderful opportunity to start making positive changes in your life. Perhaps they see it this way too.

(OH, and while we are on the topic of cynics on Twitter... (Warning: Blunt rant ahead. You might want to stop reading).

It appears there is this belief that cynicism gains popularity. Perhaps it does, given the number of retweets cynical tweets receive. But then again, maybe it's just an appreciation of dark humour. There is, however, no need to be cynical to the point of dissing people who post inspirational tweets.

Constant cynicism doesn't allow you to enjoy anything life has to offer and essentially desensitizes you in respect of other people because one is so caught up in their own life. Apart from ignorance, insensitivity is also a sign of bitterness; one can't be happy with what one has, so one is cynical about everyone else to create this false sense of superiority to mask the fact that one is unable to accept something about one's own life.

If one cant see the sunlight streaming through the clouds, it's one's personal business. But one should not eclipse someone else's rainbow because one chooses to be swallowed by their own storm.

Also, has anyone else noticed the people-hate on Twitter? I don't understand; if you can't stand people so much, why are you on Twitter?  Because you enjoy the false identities that some people create? If that's the case, you'd be better off with a book. I get that the internet allows you to come out of your shell and give you the confidence that you might not have in person; but good God, do you have to be mean? No wonder no one wants to be your friend in person, because all you do is complain about everything.

Okay, wow. That was mean and it's Ramadhaan. I'm sorry.)

Moving on.

The other 'type'of Muslim are the self-righteous who think they're better than the man without a beard or a woman without a scarf. Ladies and gentlemen, this is counter judgment to 'type one' Muslim and it doesn't make you any better than they are.Self-righteousness stems from pride, and, in case you've forgotten your Tahzeeb lessons from Primary School Madressah, "A man with an atom of pride shall not enter Jannah.". Everyone is on their own spiritual journey, so shift your focus to self-improvement.

It is impossible to avoid these types of people, be it in Ramadhaan or any other time of the year. Clearly it is difficult to please anyone, so worry about your own contentment and that of your Creator. 

I wish you a Blessed Ramadhaan :) May the all positive changes you make this month become permanent changes thereafter.