Monday, February 27, 2012

Dear JJ (AKA "What Crazy Looks Like")

Yesterday I listened to an audio clip of Fletch and Vaughan reading some text messages allegedly send from a girl called JJ, to a man she had a one night stand with. The girl was clearly suffering from a severe anxiety episode, yet people all over the globe seem to view this as entertainment.


Since when has a girl having a mental breakdown been funny? Screen shots of the texts have propagated all over the web under the title "This is What Crazy Looks Like Via Text Messaging" and there are literally thousands of comments from people laughing at her.

I really hope that the texts are a hoax. If not, there is a girl out there, who will no doubt be deeply distressed by this mass, disgusting example of digital bullying.

What JJ appears to have experienced, is the involuntary surge of chemicals that follows sex. She felt attached to Kevin, whether she wanted to or not, and any sign that he did not feel the same way, caused her great anxiety. In order to alleviate this anxiety, she texted him again and again. Every time he failed to respond, she felt more anxiety and the urge to text him again increased. She got caught up in a self-defeating loop. Later texts suggest that she loathed the way she was behaving, yet was powerless to stop.

Most of the comments about this appear to see things from the man's point of views. Yes, I understand why her texts may have annoyed him, but that seems negligible given the pain she must have been in to send so many, deeply troubled texts.

So JJ, if you're reading this, the people who are laughing about this are the ones you should feel sorry for. They are obviously to shallow to appreciate that somebody in your position deserves compassion, not public humiliation and mockery. For many people, the emotions that follow sex with a new partner, or overpowering and confusing. You are not the only girl who has behaved in this way, and you won't be the last.