Hey, happy Sunday night, wherever the hell you might be. So, I’ve been way too glued to social media lately. Honestly, people are losing their minds out there. Half of them are raging about TDS, and the other half look like they’d gladly watch the world burn if it meant kicking Trump out. It’s like everyone’s main hobby is being pissed off at each other. Grab some popcorn, because apparently, this is the new national sport.

Let me introduce you to something I like to call the “you shit head letter.”

Let me tell you about something I’ve perfected over the years. I call it the “you shit head letter.” It’s not trademarked or anything, but it damn well should be. The concept is simple: whenever some insufferable asshole—like the kind who makes you question if they share DNA with a brick wall—pushes you to the edge, you don’t respond right away. Nope. You take a deep breath, resist the urge to hit “send,” and instead, you write the most cathartic, profanity-laden masterpiece you’ve ever created. This isn’t just any letter. Oh, no. It’s a literary middle finger wrapped in words.

Let me tell you how this whole thing works. First, I write. And then, I write some more. Seriously, by the time I’m done, I’ve practically written a novella—just to explain, in excruciating detail, how fucking stupid someone is. And then, when I think I’ve exhausted every creative insult in the English language? I keep writing. Because why not?

Then what? Do I send it? Oh, hell no. I save it. Somewhere on my OneDrive, there’s a folder of these masterpieces. And honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if some government spy is sitting in front of a monitor right now, reading my rants and laughing their ass off. That’s fine. Laugh it up, buddy. Just don’t publish it, or I will absolutely sue under copyright law. I might be petty, but I’m not stupid.

Anyway, once I’ve exorcised the stupidity-induced rage from my system, I sleep on it. And when I wake up—calmer, slightly less homicidal—I go back and read the letter. That’s when I follow a little exercise in self-restraint that I like to call THINK.

Here’s how it works:

And let me tell you, the “You Shithead” letter absolutely fails this test. Every single time.

So yeah, the “You Shithead” letter never sees the light of day. But damn, does it feel good to write.

But guess what I didn’t do?

Yeah, start a war with someone I disagreed with.

There is common ground out there. Somewhere. Probably buried under all the bullshit we keep piling on top of it. The problem is, we’d need to stop tripping over our own egos long enough to actually look for it. And let’s be real, that’s not exactly humanity’s strong suit. Here’s the kicker, though: searching for common ground? Not sexy. Not flashy. It doesn’t go viral, it doesn’t rack up likes, and it definitely doesn’t make you the star of some TikTok rant. You know what does get attention? Being a keyboard warrior.

Social media has basically turned us all into part-time gladiators, except instead of swords, we’re armed with shitty opinions, zero accountability, and a Wi-Fi connection. And let’s face it—it’s so much easier to call someone a moron online than to actually have a real conversation. Who needs nuance when you can just drop a snarky comment and rack up some imaginary internet points? Nuance takes effort. Snark is instant. And honestly, it’s addicting. You hit “post” and BAM—you’re a hero in your own head, even if you’re just shouting into the void.

But here’s where it all goes to shit. This constant stream of digital venom isn’t just harmless venting. It’s like dumping gasoline on a fire that’s already out of control. We’re not just creeping toward the edge of some global catastrophe, we’re practically sprinting toward a full-blown war with each other. Not, like, a nation-against-nation war. No, this is worse. It’s a war where empathy, understanding, and basic human decency are the first casualties. And for what? So you can roast someone who used the wrong “your/you’re” on Facebook?

So yeah, common ground exists. But finding it means doing the one thing most people on the internet absolutely refuse to do: shutting the fuck up. It means resisting the urge to win every argument, humiliate every stranger, and prove you’re smarter than some random person you’ve never even met. It means pausing for a second and remembering that behind every screen is another flawed, messy, probably-overcaffeinated human being. Just like you.

I’ve got a lot of people on my social media. If you’re on my “friends list,” odds are pretty good I’ve met you, shaken your hand, and wouldn’t mind grabbing a drink with you if the stars aligned. I mean, I don’t just friend random strangers—I save that kind of recklessness for impulse Amazon purchases and gas station sushi.

Now, writers? Writers are some of the most wildly diverse people I know. And by diverse, I mean they can range anywhere from “delightful conversationalist” to “I need a drink to survive this interaction.” I remember one left-wing loon in particular. Trying to find common ground with her was like trying to convince a cat to take a bath—it just wasn’t happening. In the end, the best I could do was agree that we both have red blood. That’s it. That’s all we had in common.

I have no idea where she was born, where she grew up, or what series of life events convinced her that she was right about absolutely everything and the rest of us were just walking disasters. But hey, she probably thought the same thing about me. That’s the fun of it, right?

At the end of the day, when we parted ways, we both managed to wave goodbye—using all of our fingers, mind you, not just the middle one. And that’s the point. The thing worth noting here is this: it’s not about agreeing on everything. The real effort, the thing that makes us human and keeps us from tearing each other apart, is striving to find common ground. Even if that ground is just, “Well, at least we’re both technically alive.”

Here’s one last piece of advice I’d offer, and it’s this: try arguing the issue from the other person’s point of view. No, seriously. Give it a shot. Pretend you’re them and make the case for whatever it is they’re so passionate about. Like, why 64 million abortions is biblical, or totally fine, or falls under “my body, my choice.” Hell, even try arguing why abortion up to the ninth month is perfectly acceptable.

Now, let me be clear—any sane person is probably going to struggle (read: fail spectacularly) at making a convincing argument for something they fundamentally disagree with. And honestly, you might not get very far. But here’s the thing: I’ve found it’s a pretty effective learning experience to at least try to see where the other person is coming from. Even if their logic feels like it was cooked up on a rusty waffle iron.

And if that doesn’t work? If, after all your mental gymnastics, you still can’t find a shred of common ground or even a glimpse of understanding? Well, that’s when you break out the trusty “you shit head letter.” Write it all down, every insult, every “how the hell do you function in society” thought that crosses your mind. Don’t hold back. But—this is key—don’t send it. Sleep on it.

Then, when you come back to it the next day, edit it down to a simple, “Bless your heart, have a nice life.” Trust me, it’s the perfect mix of passive-aggressiveness and closure. Plus, it saves you the headache of a long, drawn-out argument that neither of you is ever going to win.

While I’m sitting here typing this, just remember: this shit doesn’t write itself. Seriously. So how about throwing me a little love? A like, a share, maybe even a follow if you’re feeling generous. And hey, a comment wouldn’t hurt either—bonus points if it’s not spam or you telling me I’m wrong about something.

In case you didn’t know, I’m an author. And while this blog post was fun to write, let’s not kid ourselves—it’s also marketing. Gotta keep the hustle alive, right?

Anyway, have a great week next week. Or don’t. I’m not your boss.

-Best

1. #YouShitheadLetter
2. #SocialMediaRage
3. #KeyboardWarriorsUnite
4. #CommonGroundOrBust
5. #BlessYourHeart
6. #PassiveAggressive101
7. #RantTherapy
8. #DontHitSend
9. #ArgueBetter
10. #SocialMediaMeltdown
11. #ThinkBeforeYouPost
12. #FlawedButHuman
13. #WritingIsTherapy
14. #LetItOutDontSendIt
15. #WritersWithSnark
16. #StopKeyboardWars
17. #NuanceMatters
18. #StayPettyStayCalm
19. #InternetArgumentsSuck
20. #ShitDoesntWriteItself

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