T. A. Keating ’13| Executive Web Editor

Dear Friends:

I know I don’t say it enough, but I love you all. But you have a bad habit, and you and I both know it. I’ve tried to ignore it to avoid embarrassing both of us, but it’s time we finally talked about this. I know it will be difficult–some of the things I say may hurt–but this is a problem that we need to confront: you have a sharing problem. You are destroying your online relationships and alienating some of your closest friends. So it’s time to say ‘”enough is enough.”

I remember when you started sharing, back when we were young and careless. You started out with funny pictures, inspiring quotes and YouTube videos of adorable cats. It all seemed so innocent, and neither you nor I saw the harm. After all, all the cool kids were sharing. Little did we know the path you had chosen was darker and more treacherous than anyone could realize.

The earliest signs that you had a problem were about three years ago. You started sharing depressing song lyrics and statuses how much your boss sucked, but I didn’t try to stop you. When I saw you were experimenting with this more potent stuff, I just decided not comment. You knew that neither I nor anyone else liked what you were sharing, but you didn’t care. Unfortunately, you seemed to treat my indifference as acceptance. Looking back, I probably should have tried to make you stop, but you I both were content to not address the problem.

When you first started sharing politics, I admit I was initially relieved. I figured that, while you were still sharing, it was at least for a cause you believed in. For a time, I thought you could share responsibly, and your abuse was just a phase.

Boy was I wrong.

I realized how bad your problem was when you started experimenting with Ron Paul. Everyone’s done a little bit of Ron Paul, usually in college, but most of them give it up and never go back to it. But you couldn’t give it up, could you? Every time I saw you, you were sharing Ron Paul. On Facebook, Twitter and even Tumblr, you just couldn’t stop sharing that sweet, sweet liberty. That’s why we were all so thankful when your supply of Ron Paul ran out in early 2012. We thought this could be your opportunity to stop sharing, once and for all, but you just had to keep looking for another hit. Ron Paul made you an addict, and you would rather share the next best thing than give it all up.

That brings us to now. I know you’re still sharing, even if you try to keep it quiet. You may have moved to something less potent (like an angry letter to McDonalds demanding that they make Shamrock Shakes available year round) but you are still sharing way too much. Yes, it’s an election year and the political share crops are in season, but you need to realize what you’re doing to yourself. I find it hard to believe that you’ve managed to stay in school or hold down a job, especially when you’re sharing up to 100 times a day.

But your actions don’t just hurt you. They hurt your friends, your loved ones and even that girl you met at that party two years ago (and accepted her friend request because it would be awkward if you didn’t). I know this because your sharing has hurt me, too. I mean, it’s really obnoxious when you share stuff too much. If you didn’t do it so much, I’d be fine, but I can’t bring myself to care about 27 pictures of your dog, those 12 petitions to end global warming or those 68 articles about how Tom Brady is just two midgets in a football uniform. Basically, you’re spamming me to death, and I don’t know how much longer I can take it.

You need to face facts now: you’re a shareaholic. I know I sound hypocritical right now; after all, I still share a music video now and then, maybe even some  on special occasions. But you can’t handle it, and you need to stop with this madness now, while you still can. I am writing this letter, not because I’m angry or disappointed in you, but because I believe in you. I know you can fight it. You need help. More importantly, you need to decide what’s more important: your friends, or your sharing.