The Comfort of Disrespect and Ignorance on Social Media

In the many years of social media existence, we come across many strangers in all walks of life and different kinds of personalities and how people react to things seen. Now more than ever people are engaged into social media in some shape or form.

Not everybody agrees with certain things, and there are just some really nasty, disgusting and horrible posts with a lot of disrespect, rudeness and sheer ignorance. Some people do not think about what they post online for others to see.

Be kind and if you do not like a certain post or if there are things you do not adhere to, there is the magic of a scroll button on your computer or use your thumb to scroll down on your phone. It’s honestly ridiculous. Enough is enough with people’s criticism and rude comments. Like this world isn’t going through enough, people just add fuel to the fire.

I’m appalled at today’s society and comfort to hide behind screens to act in a horrible manner. Morals and respect is very rare. It’s getting too much! It is disgusting. People have certainly lost their way. As a social media blogger and writer, I have seen a lot in the many years I’ve been online and it’s getting worse. People just don’t care about others feelings. It’s very wrong.

People think that they are the only ones on social media and they think they can do whatever they please, but you are not alone. There are over a billion people in the world that use some sort of social media platform and all can be seen from all parts of the world. Use discretion. Everything has its limits. Just because the internet is a place that is open 24/7 365 days a year, it doesn’t mean that you are entitled to be ignorant and rude to others who you do not even know!

You know, comments and reactions that are negative in nature can do serious damage to another persons self-esteem, confidence, mental health, emotions and it can have consequences that can lead people to do physical harm to themselves and even worse. Yes, you maybe a stranger to another person, but when people actually get affected by it, its horrible. What you do online affects others too.

Ahhh if you think its not a big deal to insult others online because you don’t know them, then you are sadly mistaken.

Now, with the pandemic of COVID19 of more than a year now, a lot more people are spending more time online to pass time. It is always a good idea to reach out to people who are going through a lot. We all are going through our problems, issues, and all kinds of things and we want to get on social media to escape those troubles.

Social media is supposed to be a fun environment where people share photos, ideas, advice, videos, tips, sharing memories, a joyous place to laugh and to pass time without seeing so many negative, insulting, offensive posts by others.

Being kind to others is very important. There are ways to approach certain situations and to react in a civil, good-hearted manner. So many groups and so many posts on certain pages have so much disrespect and its just so disturbing by the amount of people that have become so cold. All of us go through things, but it doesn’t mean that you can use that as an excuse to be mean to others. To me, I have 0 tolerance with rudeness.

Just think about it. You wouldn’t want people to be disgusting and ignorant to you, would you? Can you imagine how that would make you feel? Life is too short everyone. Tomorrow is never promised. Love each other, appreciate one another. We are all human. Respect, appreciation and goodness go a long way in life. Practice good behavior on social media and in your daily life as well.

All the best and hopefully you make a wise decision about your actions. Think before you post anything. It is that simple. It will save a lot of problems and consequences in the long run. I am just looking out for everyone’s interest. Be careful, have fun and spread positive joy to others lives.

Just trust me on this. Social media needs a huge overhaul and makeover to kindness, respect and love. Spread this and just think about it and do it!

In Loving Memory of Beautiful Sevan Magarian Atherton

In Loving Memory of Beautiful Sevan Magarian Atherton

In recent months it has been difficult for me to put into words of how heartbreaking it was when I unfortunately was informed of the passing of one of my dear childhood friends in our Armenian community. It absolutely shocked me. Sevan Magarian Atherton was a loving daughter, wife, friend, cousin, colleague and mother-to-be to her son Melik. I have still been in disbelief.

I was finally able to write about her and how much she meant to me. Just so much to say, so much to share about her. Sevan was one of my very first friends at our Armenian community Centre of Toronto when I was around 10 or 11 and she was around 8 or 9. I can’t remember the exact age and when, but I guess that doesn’t matter. All that mattered to me was meeting her. Sevan was one of a kind.

Every Friday nights, we used to hang out together to make memories and have fun and with her other friends and cousins. I never had friends and was heavily bullied emotionally and mentally in my regular school, but when I heard about and began to go on Fridays to join the Armenian community, I walked into our Centre and about an hour or so later a lot of people were coming and Sevan was there to welcome me with open arms. I felt welcome, accepted and she involved me. It was so refreshing and I felt important and I felt like I mattered. our friendship circle grew as time went on.

I am forever grateful to her and love her. She had such a golden and beautiful heart who was always selfless, who cared about people so much I wish we took photos with each other so I can keep them in my heart, but back then we had no smartphones, none of us carried cameras with us either and we were just living in the moment making memories of which I still remember in my mind.

Our Friday nights diminished. Everyone started with responsibilities and as we got older, We lost touch after a few years and then I would see her at certain Armenian events after, but I don’t know what happened. I guess we were trying to find ourselves, and our lives took us to different paths. I was going to reach out to her on social media a few years ago and catch up on life and everything going on in our lives, but wasn’t able to which I regret. She was and is always in my thoughts.

Her childhood friend Sirusho who is an Armenian Artist/Singer who resides in Armenia, she made beautiful videos on YouTube and it was a tribute to Sevan and Sirushos life in Toronto. It is called Armat – Sirusho in Toronto, Canada. Sevan was talking about how she met her Husband Michael Atherton, her memories with Sirusho and at the school they attended at Arpi Nursery and so much more. I have watched it maybe 10 times already just so I can hear Sevans voice. I never attended Arpi Nursery, but I heard of how awesome the school was and how incredibly awesome the Late Arpi Meras was. Her beautiful personality, her dedication and devotion to everyone was incredibly beautiful.

It is times like this where we should never ever wait to reach out to those who we love, respect, cherish and appreciate. It is important to keep in touch with people who have made life better and a great positive impact. If you wait, it can be too late. These are life lessons to learn. Never put anything off. Always do what you can today in the present and don’t leave putting things off for later. Tomorrow is never promised. Young and elderly. It has no age limit.

In the last few months Sevan has been appearing in my dreams and she keeps smiling at me and I know she is looking down from heaven and she is comforting me. Thank you Sevan for everything. I never got to thank her for accepting me for who I am and now I finally have. Sevan, wherever you are in heaven, always know that you are and will always be in my heart and I am forever grateful for you. I love and miss you Sevan. May you rest in peace. I know you are watching over everyone in your life.

The Side Effects Struggles Are Real – Aftermath of AstraZeneca COVID19 Vaccine

The Side Effects Struggles Are Real – Aftermath of AstraZeneca COVID19 Vaccine
By: Talin Orfali Ghazarian

Since beginning of COVID19 vaccines, I was always against taking the vaccine. I didn’t know what chemicals or stuff that I was going to be putting in my body, but due to some reasons, I decided to take the plunge and actually go forth with it. Which I regret. On Wednesday morning on May 5th, 2021, I decided to roll up my sleeve and receive my first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Things turned for the worse as the hours progressed. The side effects and struggles are very real.

Some people say to trust vaccines, and it will help save people, but does it really? I was perfectly healthy before I took it, and now I am suffering.

Just because some people don’t get side effects, doesn’t mean nobody will, but it had to pick a battle with me when I have been against it from the beginning. It was too late. Everything started going downhill after the injection and quickly too.

What I began to feel happening inside my body in these last couple of weeks:

• I felt like sharp knives were hitting my lower leg muscles/ankles which lasted a few seconds long.
• Anxiety attacks and I felt restless.
• No energy to do basic things.
• Dizziness and feeling faint.
• Not being able to stand up on my feet for long periods of time.
• Sleepiness and feeling the need to sleep a lot during the day.
• Sore throat/Runny nose/Cough – Those went away after a couple of days
• Sweaty and shaky
• Body shocks
• Began crying.
• I felt like a war was being conducted in my body and I felt like I am being defeated.
• I felt like walls were closing in on me.
• Hot and Cold flashes, but especially hot flashes.
• Loss of appetite.
• Diarrhea
• Plus more symptoms after vaccination

I was very close to going to the hospital a few times, but this morning is the very first time in the last couple of weeks where I am starting to feel a little more energetic, but I still have a long road ahead to feel normal and healthy again. I don’t wish these feelings on anybody. It is the worst.

I do feel like the side effects are diminishing, but not entirely.

There is a few people I know who think I am making it up and told me to keep it to myself and not spread misinformation. I wish I was making it up, but what I am feeling is very real. I don’t think it is fair for those certain people to tell me what I am feeling and what I am not feeling. They are not in my body to feel it and it is good they don’t have to find out.

Are we taking the vaccine because a lot of other people are doing it? I sometimes think to myself if COVID19 is actually real? Or are they lying to us about the numbers? Maybe people have other underlying medical issues which triggered. People who have the regular cold or flu are testing positive for covid because now there is no such thing as the regular cold or flu anymore in the last year and a half. Everything is being ruled out as COVID19.

I am not trying to tell people not to take vaccines. You are free to do what you want and how you feel about it, but just be careful that is all. If you experience side effects or problems after vaccines, do not keep it to yourself. It is important to share and to spread awareness. we cannot keep quiet.

Are they truly being honest with us? It is very difficult to trust these days and especially for people who are unlucky who get side effects. Are they hiding things from us? I feel like we are all in a huge lab and are experimenting on all of us.

Be very careful everyone. Just a word of advice from me.