It's Wednesday. I Hate Everyone.

I know, I know.  I should just back away from the internet, and I must say that I've done an admirable job of it as far as avoiding all the political nonsense that comes in an election year.  But I still like to surf during my lunch hour, usually blogs that I like and fluffy silly sites in the fandoms I enjoy, and these places are not immune to the stupid - particularly as far as commenters are concerned.  And today, the stupid?  I can't seem to escape it.

Let me give you a few cases in point.

Let's kick things off with an entire flamewar devoted to the fact that an actor in the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid was seen--Brace Yourselves, People, This One's a Doozy--SMOKING!  Outside!  While in makeup!  WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?!?!?!

Comment that brought me to the precipice of visiting fiery doom upon my fellow earthlings?  This one:

Well, us non-smokers are tired of getting lung cancer and dying because of smokers who have no problem with polluting our lungs along with theirs. I don't care whether or not it's legal. You're allowed to do it, fine. But don't ever expect to stop being treated as lesser human beings, because that's what murderers are.

Full disclosure - I am not a smoker, and find smoke gross.  But really, wtf?  I know that the internet has made it all about the Oversharing, and the Passing Judgement, and the Gaseous Vitriol, but really, I'd like to think that folks retained a sense of proportion. Especially when said folks live in NYC, which probably has some other air quality issues worth addressing...

Apparently not.  Witness the photographs of the freaking BODY BAG containing Heath Ledger (I am not linking, though if you've hit any news sites today you've probably seen them). And don't give me that tired nonsense about, "Oh, but that's what the public WANTS!  They have a right to know!"

No. Do not want. And please explain how I can't understand the concept of "dead" without a photo of the body. I'm not going to take to the streets yelling about being oppressed because I can't see pictures of a dead body, no matter how famous the person it belonged to was.  I know he's dead, and why, and that's where my "right" to information--if we even really have such a thing, which I doubt--about another human being ends.  It's called decorum.  We used to have some.

We also used to have a sense of compassion for humans. I specify "humans," because of this Amy Winehouse story.  Didn't watch the crack-smoking video, because human trainwrecks in technicolor ick me out. But I came across an article on her today, and read it.  Should have stopped before I got to the comments, is all I'm sayin'.

Why?

Because at the end of an article detailing the problems of a troubled and talented young woman, the most salient thing one respondent had to say was this:

If no one is going to help her at least can the RSPCA get the kitten out of her household? She might be chosing that lifestyle, the cat isn't.

Whoo. I need to step back - that milk of human kindness is about to drown me.  Or the kitten.  Whatever.

So to sum up - crazy people still crazy.  Internet still a live version of the DSM-IV.  I remain disappointed in just about everything, and may have to buy new shoes to fill the gaping hole in my soul.

Have a nice day.