dirty laundry

We like to watch... and to read... and to hear about...

... the bad news.

We slow down to get a closer look at the car wreck.

We watch the addicts and delinquents on TV.

We listen to the blowhards and ranters on the radio.

We're attracted to those behaving badly.

Those on the fringes... the freaks, the felons, and the misfits.

We're drawn to the break-ups, debacles, and scandals.

We prefer to skip over the good news and reviews and get right to the bad ones.

We want to know what the "haters" are thinking and saying... though we outwardly despise them, we secretly admire them for chucking their politically correct persona.

We may pretend not to notice, but we see it.

We may feel bad about it, but...

We want... the dirty laundry.

Why?

Is it more interesting and exciting than the humdrum drone of daily life?

Does it make us feel better about ourselves in some ways on some days?

Do we quietly cringe within the safety of our own voyeuristic caves?

Are we thinking "better them than me," while possibly feeling a bit guilty for thinking that way?

Does misery love company?

I say, yes to all...

Advertisers and businesses bank on bad news.

They say: "Feeling bad? We've got what you need to feel better!"

They also say: "Feeling good? We've got what you need to keep feeling good and avoid feeling bad!"

Some studies have shown that human beings will go to greater lengths to avoid pain than to seek pleasure.

To some, avoiding pain IS their "pleasure."

The point of this preamble?

We're all much more alike than different at the core. None of us are terribly unique... not really.

We humans can be a twisted bunch. We're frighteningly similar along these lines. Accept it for what it is and be OK with it.

Just be aware of this condition... this human nature to be attracted to the negative; the down-and-out; the dark side at times. But just be sure to leave others out of it.

©2011 Tom Leu