This post isn’t so much about the actions of an irreverent Facebooker as it is about thanking a Facebook friend for nipping an icky situation in the bud. Although I’m quite the pollyanna when it comes to netiquette, I do realize that there’s a lot of immature and meanie behavior out there. Being a peaceful sort, I usually shy away from confrontation and raisin’ a ruckus, so I’ve pretty much stayed under the online radar, which is why I was surprised recently by the unprovoked insolence of a Facebook friend’s friend.

First, a little about my Facebook “friend”…I’ve never met this 20-something guy, but was, eons ago, close with his father. I imagine that, to the poor kid’s dismay, he was convinced to friend me so his dad could have a peephole into my life. That’s fine. If he happens to see anything of interest here, I do hope he shares!

So, his kid, my virtual friend, recently posted an article on the BP spill…lots of conflicting data about the actual amount of oil being spilled into the ocean each day. It was a good article, so I used the “like” button. Then, one of his friends posted a comment directed at me, and what it lacked in humor, it made up for in meanness, and it was even kinda embarrassing…something to the effect that if I “liked” that then I was, in his words, “retarded,” and he hoped the spill’s repercussions would some day rise up, walk land and wreak havoc on my person…and that’s putting it delicately. This guy doesn’t know me at all, and his rant on me wasn’t even on point. So, thanks go out to my Facebook friend whom, remember, I don’t even know, but who deleted his friend’s wacked comment and let me know in so many words that I needn’t worry about it happening again. He may’ve done it out of respect for his dad or just because he’s that kinda guy, but no matter, I’m grateful to him for removing it. There’s enough ugliness out there.

I understand wisecracking and being obnoxious with friends, as I’m definitely not above any of that stuff, but what’s the point of dissing a complete stranger? I really think he thought he was funny, but believe me, he was no comedian. Age doesn’t necessarily immunize folks from being rude, but here’s hoping that this guy grows out of it.