Uncommonly Common

Throw in the towel girls, Prince William is officially off the market. (Sigh).With the recent announcement of his engagement to Kate Middleton, women (and some men) everywhere sighed a deep collective sigh of disappointment. We’re not disappointed about you Kate, we like you, (well I do) even though you single-handedly killed the dream. (I sigh again). No, we’re disappointed that we didn’t beat you to it. But that’s ok, you are forgiven, since you do after all have such a keen sense of style.

Actually, all the attention you’re getting Kate makes me a little grateful I turned William down. (By the way William, that’s the official story if anyone asks). I’m quite happy not to have the media digging into my past, thank you. Granted, it’s far from sordid and a little less than juicy, (sigh) still, I’d like to think it’s called a ‘private’ life since it’s meant to be, well, private. 

But what’s really bugging me is not the cheap shots at painting a less than perfect profile of Kate, (may the writer who is without dirt throw the first computer). It’s not even the media’s reference to Kate’s alleged non-virgin status (you guys are so wrong for even mentioning that), it’s how Kate is being referred to on a whole.  

A leading UK newspaper said Kate "will be the first commoner to marry an heir presumptive to the throne in more than 350 years." (I beg your pardon.) Ok, so Miss. Middleton wasn’t born into royalty, but surely she’s no commoner. Why that’s just rude! Couldn’t this have been phrased differently? Said with a little more, gee, tact? Allow me to suggest a thesaurus for your next article.

Well Kate, if it helps any, I wasn’t born into royalty either (I know this is a surprise to many of you) and since I wouldn’t like being called a “commoner”, I don’t see why you should endure it either. We're not going to cuss about it though, that would be common behavior. And while we are many and in that way, perhaps common, we can behave  most uncommon about it and be graciously silent. 

Chin up Kate! Keep smiling and stepping in style. And while it pains me to concede, congratulations. 

Though, should you change your mind, do put in a good word with Will for me.

Status Update: Incorrect

I fought the trend at first. I refused to be part of the social networking lifestyle taking over everyone’s lives. I blatantly declined sitting in front the computer all day when there was sunshine to bask in, oceans to swim and dirt tracks to hike. I never had a My Space page, by the time I got around to it, it was no longer trendy. I was the last of my friends to finally give in and get a Facebook account. Not that I was interested then either, but there was this photo album I just had to see.  Even after I had a Facebook account and grudgingly added a Twitter account to the mix, I seldom used either and surely wasn’t adding either of them to my Blackberry, which by the way, I had strictly for professional purposes. My idea of social networking was a cocktail party. But in the end, I succumbed to it all. I’m even a little embarrassed to admit that just like most of you, I’m officially hooked on all of them. I’m an electronically socially networked junkie.

I’ve grown to love a good FB (well you didn’t think I was going to type out Facebook each time did you?) scan and a thoughtful Tweet can give me the giggles. (Both are on my Berry now). But recently some of the status updates and Tweets my ‘friends’ (I don’t even know some of these people) are posting have been a bit disturbing, so I’ve taken it on as my duty to help you find your way, since, it is evident, you got a little lost.

Please do tell us if you are happy, concerned, bewildered or bored. Tell your friends when you get your hair-do done and add a photo so we can “Like” it. Share the funny thing on YouTube, the insightful thing on Shine, the sorrowful thing on the Advocate’s back page.

Tweet about that wonderful article on 'why we love heels' you just read in Marie Claire, or about that new piece of heaven-on-earth you found in NovelTeas on the corner. (By the way, do try the Jasmine tea). We’re even delighted to read about that cute thing your darling child did and now Twitter lets you add photos. (Cudear).

Your Blackberry Messenger (we’ll call this BBM from here on in) status has an even shorter limit than Twittter, but you can still squeeze some sweet sayings in if you try. So give it a try.

However, (sigh) if you are constipated, have diarrhea, or found a strange rash in an even stranger place, your FB or BBM status or Twitter post, is not the place to share this. Your medical condition, other than, “traffic gives me a headache”, is not for us to know.  

Your relationship status is not meant to be shared either. I don’t mean the info section on FB where it says “in a relationship with” or “married to” so-and-so. I mean when you just found out you’re being cheated on.  “(Insert name here) is a dog”, isn’t right. I don’t care who they are or what they’ve done. Don’t get me wrong, by all means you should vent, but we ask that you try not to do this in public forums.  This falls into the ‘over-share’ category and there isn’t a button for that.

Don't complicate the issue either. Kindly refrain from changing your BBM status to ‘updated Twitter’ with a link to your Twitter page and then Tweeting the link to your FB page so we can see a new music video. (Seriously?)  

Finally, I’d like to recommend if I may, that you think before you tag, or link. That photo we took in the park ten years ago brought back good memories and we all shared a smile. (Though I find it hard to believe I once thought LA Gear sneakers in purple with mustard laces fashionable. Egad!) But that doesn’t mean I care to share it with everyone I know, so I don’t know why you think I should share it with everyone you know. Got me? Before you post links with info or images of other people on your social channels, be sure they don’t mind you sharing it. Send it in private message just in case. Or a random sneaker may get thrown in your general direction.

Be sociable. It’s our world, we should know what’s happening in it. Share and share alike. Just don’t share everything. Have fun fellow junkies and share responsibly.