A couple of months ago, I went to a beloved breakfast spot* and a cockroach crawled onto the booth across from me. 

I tried my best to pretend like I didn’t see it.

But then it came out again…with a friend.

Holding back an “OMG mother-effin roaches!” scream, I returned the menu to the rack and left. 

I still see this place on my coffee commute, but I don’t dare return because my disdain for cockroaches** won’t let me. 

This is similar to how I feel about negative things online. 

I don’t want to see them, so I avoid certain places where they might appear. 

And I tend to tell authors the same thing whenever they complain about seeing mean comments or negative conversations about topics that affect them.

The places you choose to go on the internet are 100% up to you. 

The sites where you spend your time and how long you spend there are up to you as well. 

No one is forcing your fingertips to type in certain websites or scroll through certain apps.

No one is holding your eyelids open and coercing you to view comments.

You have the ability to walk away and never return to places that disgust/enrage/sadden you. 

If you truly hate negativity and don’t like seeing drama, you’ll stop spending time in places where drama is bound to pop up, and you’ll stop “sharing” these places with a friend. 

Until the next cup of tea,
Whitney G. 

**The place was a brand-new Waffle House. Mr. G swore by their pecan waffles and was devastated that our visit was ruined.

*I’ve been living in the woods for a few years now, and while I’m no longer scared of the frogs/snakes/armadillos who make their homes here, I can’t handle roaches. I. just. CANNOT.