What would normal people do when they feel depressed and downcast, or, if these words convey too strong a pessimistic message, simply upset and unhappy? Turning gluttonous is a popular but not highly-recommended way to shut out gloom since foods always heal. Close friends and intimate family members are always there for support, so are the self-help books on the shelf. Indulging in films, animations or cheesy TV series is surely on the list. Intensive workout leading to an exhausted body also works wonders by diverting one’s attention from nagging troubles to sore muscles and stressed-out limbs.

Throughout time, I've attempted all but every one of these positive methods to retain a peace of mind, yet I found it very difficult to keep high spirits in the long run. I failed for a series of reasons that repudiate the above mentioned offers one by one: I have to be thoughtful of what I put into my mouth because I used to be fat and being fat sucks; I hate people dumping all the petty details of their lives on me, so I won’t risk losing friends by doing so; I’m not close to any of my family members for the weakness and incapacity in trying to be understood, common traits most homosexuals within the closet share; I've been a movie buff already, irrespective of moods; And finally, regular exercise lifts the spirits only temporarily. Without something meaningful to engage in, my mind lapses into the annoying semi-hibernated, indifferent-to-everything status at one time or another.   

Oh, I haven’t mentioned one thing yet, which is writing, something I’m doing right now just to while away a few mind-numbing office hours.  I don’t keep journals. But I do find writing an appeasing process, a beneficial pastime, a great way to help sort out complicated affairs or inexplicable feelings by sifting through details, organizing thoughts, brooding over possibilities and eventually laying them out on paper. Anxiety and void rarefy as thoughts trickle down from brain and solidify into words, sentences and eventually a passage.

Upon completing the work, one may choose to keep it to oneself or make it public, both options reflecting distinctive mentalities: the first serves as introspection, an anatomy of oneself; the latter mirrors a want for communication, actively inviting judgments, be they praises or attacks.

Many on this website are falling over themselves to expose bravely or shamelessly their emotions through sharing with the community their melancholy stories and heartbreaking experiences. Styles, details and components of each account vary, but human relationships have only so many forms. The themes, as far as I can put down here, include but not limited to the following:

·         I got ditched (which suggests that I am available now. Feel free to flirt with me under the pretense of comforting me).

·         Or on the contrary, I just fell in love and I couldn't wait to show off to the world.

·         I miss my ex so much that I cannot bear it. If he would miss me, too, even for only a teeny-weeny bit (and somewhat making this fact known to me), I’d feel gratefully reassured.

·         Or on the contrary, I hate my ex and I like myself better and especially proud of myself for getting over that little scum.

·         I had sex with a stranger and, hell, I loved it!

·         Or it could be “I had sex with a stranger, I realized I made a terrible mistake and I’m getting AIDS!”

·         For those who do have AIDS, they live on and strong. Very estimable.

·         Everyday life: I met a moron, a psycho, a slut or an ugly (with the ugly being the most complained about and usually given hideous characteristics to make him uglier).

·         Pure bad luck: I fell for a straight guy and he showed reluctance/ ridicule/ repulsion.

·         Last but not least, the unrequited love: I like him but he doesn't give a shit!

Indeed, so sad are these stories that maybe letting it out and letting people know become the only way for some to get cheap solace for whatever it could have been as they had wished for. The storytellers, or the victims, just never realize that, when they expose their vulnerabilities and look forward to compassion, understanding and support, the despicable human natures such as apathy, disdain and schadenfreude, also sweep the audience. 

At any rate, the conversations a piece generates are uncontrollable. Onlookers are not always kind and sometimes spur straightforward or impolite comments that soon play out as endless squabbling with insults being hurled back and forth. But these are fine, just bemusing farces to me.

What I cannot understand or tolerate are those, usually rude and boorish, who are so easily offended and whose self-assertive two cents matter more than anything else that they are too argumentative and combative to let go of any chance to correct different opinions at any cost, which betrays their own ignorant characters defined by straitened horizons and backward manners.

The sour relationship between writers and readers, not only on this website, but on most social media networks across the nation, illustrates people’s mentalities and attitudes as to how to cope with both teething troubles and major obstacles in life. Some gradually relapse into two opposite extremes, either wallowing in the past remorse or over-calculating the failures that only throw them into deeper self-doubt and self-pity; or becoming excessively selfish and self-absorbed, preoccupied with cynical and utilitarian wisdom that eventually deprives them of sympathy and humanity.

Few people could remain unfazed in every stage of their lives. More likely than not, you won’t get what you've pined for by laying bare those not so fascinating accounts worded in a tedious way. Similarly, assuming a self-righteous role and running around passing judgments will also get you nowhere. I have no intention in making this article a pedantic lecture on educating people to be kind and nice to each other. In fact, I intended to write a book review but had no idea how it wound up in this bewildering direction. I’m on my own way to figure out how to balance out conflicting emotions when faced with challenges and thus make decisions without compromising my conscience. It's a one man's journey, long and lonely.