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Are You One of The Crazies?

posted on August 8, 2011

The world is full of them.

I’m sure at least a couple of people who are reading this are them.

I’m talking about The Crazies. Those people who due to spending too much time in front of a computer, on their phone, checking in, checking on and doing all the fun things that make a life/work involved in the social web fun – but in doing so have warped their sense of reality.

Every day I seem to run across more and more of them and thankfully I know when to walk away from them rather then giving them what they crave so much. More attention.

Symptoms of having a case of The Crazies may include:

  • A higher sense of self-worth due to a ranking on social stats du jour type of site. Most commonly noticed when an envious statement such as “why wasn’t I invited?” or “But, I’m an influencer too!” are uttered from their mouths and they are not kidding when saying it.
  • An uncontrollable urge to speak/tweet/post/share before thinking.
  • The warped sense that the world revolves around you and that everyone should be paying more attention to you because somehow you’ve earned that attention.
  • A never ending river of shared posts and videos, but very little original created content of any variety.
  • The lack of basic good manners. Especially visible when discussing/arguing any point online that they don’t agree with. I know our parents raised us better than many act.
  • In a face-to-face social setting, getting jittery if they haven’t looked at a screen rather than talking to the person next to them for more than five minutes.

I haven’t worked in an office for over five years. This is not the life for everyone because the longer you spend away from interacting with people you can reach out and touch the higher the chance that you’ve lost some of  the most basic social skills and could be turning into one of The Crazies.

The social aspect of the web is a powerful and awesome thing. We get to connect, share and help people around the globe who we may never even meet in person. But, just because we are behind a screen and at a keyboard doesn’t give us the right to lose our brains and start acting like someone we are not.

Don’t let The Crazies get to you.

The more you know…

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Categories: Rants
  • http://jessicagottlieb.com JessicaGottlieb

    I met the crazies this weekend. I have flirted with being a crazy, but bless my friends for pulling me out of that. 

    Perfect post CC. 

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Since I know where you were this weekend I just laughed out loud reading this comment.

      They are everywhere.

  • http://jplovescotton.com/ Janice

    I like it. Last night on blogchat we were talking about comments and the fact that the crazies show up now & then shouldn’t drive your actions. That said, I have a comment policy in the rules of my blog that includes “If my mom would think there is a personal attack in your comment, doubt you’ll see it posted.  If my niece shouldn’t read the kind of words you use, again, it will probably go into a holding cell.” 

    On Twitter the other day someone who disagreed with me pushed back a few hours later when I thanks her among several others. She assumed it was an automated deal and I said nope, I clicked the button and thought civility was still okay. Not sure why so many other people have a different outlook but I’m not going to let them get me down. 

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      I like your approach on both points. 

      It bugs me to no end when people forget to be civil. I’ve never understood that.

  • http://www.bobgoyetche.com BobGoyetche

    Like you, it’s been over 5 years since I’ve worked in an office that isn’t in my home..  it’s very easy to lose those in-person skills, and I fight that by going to networking events etc when I can..

    I do however sometimes meet people in person and wish they had a “Mark all as read” button on their forehead, so I’ve still got some work to do :)  Very nice post – I may forward to a few people I know who are starting to show signs..

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Ha!! Now THERE is a good idea for cocktail parties for sure.

      I wrote this as a miniPSA because I think we all know someone who might be developing some signs of this horrible state of mind.

      • http://jessicagottlieb.com JessicaGottlieb

        15 years here. 15 years without a boss (which is sort of a fallacy) a dress code or coworkers. 

        15 years of inventing my own wacky career. Cut me some slack if I act like an ass every so often. 

  • P.D. Love

    CC- I can’t imagine you ever losing to any degree your social skills.  You have that type of personality that is magnetic and somewhat magic.  But, I can see where the persons you describe exist and a little self check for anyone meeting these basic criteria would be a good thing.

    Good read as always.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Thanks man.

      You reminded me of how my dad once told me, “I’m glad all this online stuff hasn’t gone to your head and turned you into an asshole.”

      I’ve always kept that in the back of my head because I’ve seen more than a few people that I respected let it all go their heads and go over the edge.
      Thanks for checking in PD. Hope the family is well.

  • http://www.noahgarcia.net Noah Garcia

    There are times I border along the line of the crazies, thankfully I have two daughters that pull me back from the abyss :-) Good post, thanks for sharing. Have a great week.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Kids are great to balance it out for sure!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jane-Quigley/631111974 Jane Quigley

    I will laugh at this all day – hoping that I won’t do that in public as that’s a whole different kind of crazy…great post, CC!

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Glad it made you smile and of course I completely blame you for inspiring the post. Not that you are one of The Crazies, but you certainly gave it a great name.

  • http://www.connectedworldmedia.com davidjacobs

    Much as I love me some social media, I have to say when I get to go to an in person networking event, for example, it’s like a dip in a cool pool on a hot summer afternoon. It’s also good for washing off the social media stank when you meet new people;)

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      AMEN to that.

  • http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

    Bob’s comment made me nearly spit up my coffee. :)

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Bob is good for spit takes FAR to often. Love that Canadian!

      • http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

        Moi aussi!

  • http://laurindashaver.com Laurinda Shaver

    Oh thank Goodness!  And here I thought I was going crazy all by myself!  LOL.  Although.. i don’t believe that I fall in your list CC, there are times I find I’m talking to my coffee mug, my mouse, singing to the wall.  Its amazing how our minds do things to compensate.  [note to self:  go outside.  But tomorrow.  Today its raining].

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Don’t forget that there is a big difference between being slightly crazy and being one of THE Crazies. :)

      I talk to myself and get loopy on a daily basis.

  • Pingback: The Crazies Are Everywhere ! « Notes from An Alien

  • http://twitter.com/MYN MarkYoshimotoNemcoff

    Amen, CC… Amen!

  • Pingback: Could the “crazies” just be introverts? — www.kevinbehringer.com

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    Isn’t there an app to check “The Crazies” level (grin)! I’ll bring one to the next social event and see if I can tag people with “The Crazies”. That will be me, head down with my mobile device…

    Love that photo!