I have been told by a few friends that I’m a great communicator; I love getting right to the point and talking through things head on. However, I’ve found that my communication skills are no match for certain online methods of conversation, such as the direct message. I realized this when I received a DM and the only way for me to know what it said was to simply open it.
What could be worse than that?
I’ve never minded texting, with my Read Receipts off, of course. In fact, I actually enjoy it because I can digest what the other person has said to me, while also having time to think of the perfect response. But when I received a DM on Instagram from an acquaintance I met in college named Farah relying only on a blurb that read, “Hey girlie! Just wanted to know if…”, I was immediately sent into panic.
Technology can be so cruel!
The DM could be about literally anything, I thought. Was she looking for a job, or offering me a job? Was she going to tell me that my boyfriend cheated on me with her best friend? Was she confronting me about something I said to her in sophomore year? I was a total bitch then!
The possibilities were endless, and all of them had the potential to ruin my life!
After quitting the Instagram app and trying not to think about the DM for a couple hours, I reopened the app later and got scared all over again, except this time, I gathered my strength and decided to face the DM, no matter what consequences it might bring.
I opened the chat, and the full DM read, ““Hey girlie! Just wanted to know if you had any recs for San Diego? I’m visiting this week and remembered that you grew up there!” I was pleasantly surprised by the message and was honestly touched that she recalled this fact about me, but this bliss was soon replaced by the total dread of her knowing that I opened the message.
I only had around five minutes to respond before she thought I was a callous, cruel monster!
Immediately, I started rattling off different locations off the top of my head, sending a separate message for each one. This was probably unnecessary, but it’s not like I could think straight while the clock was literally counting down!
No one should ever have to experience this!
After I sent her every restaurant, tourist spot, and park I could think of, a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. I finally felt free again. And that’s when she sent another message that read, “Thanks so much! Also another thing…Your boyfriend is cheating on you with my best friend. Just thought you should know girlie! <3”
