Why So Grumpy?

[phekwig]

You know how it is... Post a positive video and it gets 53 views... Post a rant and it gets 119.

Still, I try to be positive except when I'm in the taxi :)

[andymooseman]

Good point about video topics.

it's a sad fact, but probably true :)

[missdivinestalls]

Nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around - Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes

[andymooseman]

And we all seem to like spreading it around don't we?

I guess we feel that a problem shared, is a problem halved? :)

[EyeMonniker]

I think some of what you were saying later in the video (telling a lot of people about bad experiences, but only a few people about good ones) could some of that be survival instinct? Say for instance a pre-civilization human experimentally ate something that made him badly sick - it could save a life if he told everyone he knows. Whereas sharing good experiences doesn't have the same preventative quality.

[andymooseman]

You may well be right about that survival instinct & that it certainly a good reason not to say certain things.

Amazingly enough, i was actually thinking about those early people trying out "new" foods the other day (ihave no idea why)

Somebody had to be the first to try something new. When you consider some of the weird things that we eat, that was quite a leap of faith! :)

[SunnyDazStormyNitz]

You make a really valid point. We have noticed the same thing. There are a lot of negative comments, harmless but negative.

Of course living with Stormy......

[andymooseman]

LOL I wonder why they call him Stormy? ;)

Like you say, a lot of the comments here are perfectly harmless, but grumpy & negative. Maybe we can help change that? :)

[popparoc46]

You are right, Andy. I tend to wait to make a vlog until I have something to complain about. I guess because I think my general life is boring and I want to have a story to tell. It will be something I'll think on and try to improve! Thanks for this one.

- roc

[andymooseman]

Complaining is just so much easier isn't it? Thats partly the problem i think. You are not alone in feeling that way.

Maybe we should start a campaign for happy vlogging? :)

[petuniabelle650]

All I know for sure is that the older I get the grumpier I get. Maybe when we're older we just have so much more to be grumpy about! :)

[andymooseman]

Maybe it's all those years of pent up frustrations coming out? And maybe we're just more willing to let those feelings out when we're older? :)

[Aaroncast86]

There does seem to be a lot of negativity in the world, and the internet is certainly not immune. Many people have negativity sort of ingrained day by day, like through the media or interaction with other negative people. I think the reason that a lot of comedy has a sort of cynicism to it is that we can find solace in laughing at our own pain, at realizing we are not alone in our struggles. That other people go through similar experiences may be of some (perhaps small) comfort.

[Aaroncast86]

That said, there's some good out there too. For instance, there's an app for the iPhone called Gratitude Stream. It's sort of like a twitter where the theme is gratitude. I've been using it for a few days now, posting in the morning when I wake up and again at night when I go to bed. It's interesting to read about the things others are grateful for and taking a few minutes to think about things I'm grateful for seems to improve my mood overall, if only slightly. haha

[andymooseman]

I might have to check that iPhone app out. Maybe others have caught onto this general feeling of negativity & are trying to do something about it? :)

[andymooseman]

I totally agree that we like to laugh at those things that we recognise from our own life. There is a kind of relief that we're not the only person suffering these problems.

So, in a way, we're actually laughing at ourselves. it's a little strange that we always seem to need somebody else to point this out to us ;)

[bearchay889]

I can't remember when but at some point i realized that you only get back what you put out so i try my best to stay to the positive.

Though i don't think most ppl teach their kids and respect or manners these days in reallife and it only shows that much more online because mom and dad don't know or care to monitor that part of their life.

[andymooseman]

That's a pretty good philosophy to have. How can you expect others to be positive, if you're not that way yourself? :)

[TamHickey67]

You're right Andy, there is a lot of negativity out there. Maybe it's the case that the media are constantly drip feeding us with horror stories like John and Edward still being on the X factor lol.

Personally, I had a good day chilling out in front of the television today watching The Wizard of Oz, The Aristocats and Die Hard 4. I know I should get out more, but it was fun viewing, apart from the X Factor of course.

[andymooseman]

I manage to avoid X-Factor. Although i don't think it's completely avoidable, mores the pity.

The media doesn't help, i agree. As somebody else pointed out, bad news sells. Crazy isn't it? :)

[GoneIsGone]

While "Grumpy" is, in fact, one of Disney's popular characters, I much prefer Thumper, who is famous for saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Right? :+) So put on a happy face, people. Your heart will be much heathlier for your efforts, in that regard. <3

[andymooseman]

Nice comment.

I remember both characters well. I seem to remember that Grumpy was funny because of his grumpy nature. A bit like those comedians i mentioned.

And i like that quote :)

[Pippilly]

Morning! I just made my freshly ground coffee and just realized I have no milk! Arrrrrrg!!! What a waste of expensive espresso beans! My whole day is ruined Andy!

Ahhhhhhhhh that feels much better =D

[andymooseman]

See, grumpy can be good sometimes. Just try not to make a habit of it ;)

You could always have your coffee black, like me.

[OhCurt]

FREE JUAN VALDEZ!!!!

[andymooseman]

LOL Curt. I actually had to do a Google search to see who Juan Valdez was.

Is there any free coffee though? :)

[OhCurt]

Unfortunately, no, there isn't. The donkey still has attorney fees to cover, so the cost went up.

[BarryAldridge]

Great points raised Andy.

[andymooseman]

Thanks Barry :)

[americannamor]

I notice I do it too on Twitter, I try to avoid it as much as I can but sometimes I think it's good to throw a 140 character out into the void.

Why we do it so much in real life I don't know. Maybe it's easier to agree on what is bad and annoying then to find good things we can agree on.

[andymooseman]

I hadn't thought about the Twitter thing, until i read that book. But, it's true. As i said in the video. We just do it without even thinking!

We all like to bitch & moan at times don't we & now we can all do it to the world :)

[PappyStu]

We must struggle to rise above our nature...

[andymooseman]

And it is a struggle sometimes too ;)

[Ranblv]

I think that most of the time negative observations are more controversial and as such more interesting.

what is so interesting in "lovely weather we are having"? but a rant about getting home soaking wet is a story.

[andymooseman]

That's a a very good observation Ran. I think the negative certainly provokes a more interesting discussion :)

[dl737]

We are negative by nature - sad but true. Just look at the news. Why is it always the 'bad' that is news and never the 'good' The anonymity of the internet makes it even easier to be bad and spread hate.

Sorry state of affairs - but part and parcel of our nature.

[andymooseman]

Bad news sells doesn't it? It was ever thus & will always be that way. I guess we just have to live with it & do the best we can to try & remain positive. It's not easy sometimes though, is it? :)

[OhCurt]

Wacky humans - we can often be our own worst enemas.

No, that's not a typo.

[andymooseman]

LOL I'm not sure is there is really an answer to that comment :)

[kenrg]

Once again, I don't think this is "an internet problem" - I think it's basically that people suck. Well, you know, those "other" people suck. Not you and me.

But this does make me think. It's like some people watch Curb Your Enthusiasm and think Larry David is an ass and a loser. I see him as a hero. It's all a matter of perspective.

[Aaroncast86]

I agree that it's not "an internet problem" so much as it is an trend. In my view the internet is an extension of the offline world. Trends seen online generally begin offline.

I try to avoid thinking that those "other" people just basically suck. Hard to stay positive sometimes... and now I think about it, why am I doing them the kindness of assuming their better than they might actually be? Wait, that's a cynical of me to say. hrm.

I also see Larry David as a hero in that show.

[andymooseman]

I love "Curb" & i agree, he can be seen a kind of a hero & one that is willing to stand up to all that is crazy about this world.

And i agree, this is not purely an Internet problem. As Aaron said, the Internet is just an extension of the so called real world :)

[bugsinrug]

Maybe Andy, it's because in "real life" we would be complaining or grumpy face to face, and not want to lose the relationship with that person. On the internet if we anger or upset another with our grumpiness etc., we can just block or delete if their friendship hasn't any value. Good vlog. hugs, Chris

[andymooseman]

Thanks Chris. That block & delete feature is very useful isn't it ;)

[RobElliottMusic]

Its got me thinking about songs too. There are so many out there about lost love, depression and hatred...thankfully we have Girls Aloud to cheer us up....ah! thats why we're all so grumpy! lol

[andymooseman]

That's a good point about songs Rob. Trust you to think of that one :)

[RobNorthampton]

I don't know if it's my age or my personality, but I can usually find many more things to moan about than to celebrate! :-)

Rob, Gay Old Grump!

[andymooseman]

I'm sure age does have a bearing on this. Maybe it's that feeling that everything was better when we were younger & now we have earned the right to moan about it? :)

[moviegasm]

Very nicely put, Andy!

[andymooseman]

Thanks :)

[MrRandomWritings]

I waited years to be a grumpy old man and I am going to bloody well make the most of it!

[andymooseman]

That sounds like a good plan Brian. Mind if i join you? :)

[ajdpadbury]

Dead Pan comedy has always been popular, Jack Dee and Alan Davies are the masters of it; as for grumpiness in general, I think it is a pandemic sweeping world! My job is split between telesales and field sales involving a lot of driving, I feel like I am a glutton for punuishment at the moment!:)

[andymooseman]

Jack Dee was one of the examples that i was thinking about.

I agree with you about grumpiness seeming to grow. What i find worrying is that so many younger people are grumpy too. That used to be the preserve of the old! :)