Why People Moan On Social Media

Why do people moan on social media?

My big, moaning face.

You know the ones I mean, the ones who moan that they “haven’t sat down all day” and “every flipping traffic light was red” and “ugh, someone didn’t change the bog roll AGAIN” and “shit, the kids have been utter bastards ALL DAY AND I NEED WINE”. Familiar? That’s because you probably follow me. I’m that person.

So why do I do it? Why do I think anyone ever wants to read me moaning like a miserable, old cow?

Because it’s life.

It’s normal for people to have things to moan about in their daily life. It’s how us lovely Brits like to get through the day! Especially if you happen to mention the weather (and how shit it is!). Absolutely no one can go to bed and say their day has been perfect from start to end. Unless they are a) lying or b) have had a lobotomy.

Because everyone can relate to it.

Everyone knows how frustrating it is to get to a bus stop as the bus pulls off; or how annoying it is when someone is rude serving you in a shop; or realising you’ve left your purse on the kitchen counter when you’ve got a full shopping trolley; or when someone cancels a lunch date just as you’re putting your fully prepared meal on the table; or when you ring for a doctors appointment and you are told you have to wait THREE WEEKS to see someone.  

Because it IS happening to you.

When you’re having a shit day it’s so nice to read that you’re not alone. Someone else has had it up to pussy’s bow that day too! You can have a good old moan together on your social media platform of choice.

Because it’s not happening to YOU.

It’s also a relief to know that it ISN’T happening to you! “Thank god my day’s not as bad as hers!” It puts things in perspective a little bit..... “Ooof, she’s having a rough one!” You can feel smug that your day is going infinitely better than mine.

Above all, the reason that I moan on social media is to make people LAUGH. As you'll know if you regularly read this blog, I very often have my tongue firmly planted in my cheek. If I am having a shocking day and I need to vent, I'll usually try and make it sound as ridiculous as possible so that I can get some humour out of the situation. It’s selfish really. I use it as a tool to help me feel better about the rough crap I am dealing with at that moment. And with two young kids and two naughty cats, it’s quite often literally crap I am dealing with.

Also when you have small kids, and you’re not the most patient of souls *cough* then there are a LOT of times in the day when you just need to get away from the squawking, the grizzles, the pleas for more juice, Peppa Pig! NO! Paw Patrol! The “it’s mine” “no, it’s mine” “I had it!”; the “no Joni, stop LOOKING AT ME”s; the “mummy can you wipe my bottooooooom”s.......aaaaaargh! I neeeeed to tell someone, like a little cry for help into the wilderness of Twitter...it’s going to be ok right?! I am going to get through the afternoon without throttling my kids, RIGHT?!

So I moan on social media a lot. And actually, in real life, I’m a pretty positive and upbeat, happy person. I guess that’s part of it too. Especially on Facebook where most of the people in my “friends” list know me. They know I’m ranting and that I’m not inherently a dark-sided monster. The ones that don’t like it (and believe me, there are many) have hidden me from their timelines. My Auntie even deleted me once because she couldn’t cope with it! But that’s the beauty of social media: you have control over what you read. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to!

I won’t be stopping moaning on social media anytime soon. It’s life, so suck it up Buttercups!