#the minors get a pass bc they're still learning. but the adults?! be better. AT LEAST when ur posting to the tag.

[bylertruther]

byler tumblr's obsession with taking other people's differing opinions as a personal attack, airing their petty grievances to the tag, and insisting that we all behave like a hivemind are only a few of the reasons why the byler tag sucks sometimes.

someone having a different opinion is a good thing. there's always something to learn from someone else's perspective, and it could either open your mind to new things or help you solidify your beliefs. either way, it stokes conversation and critical thought, both of which are good things.

"there's so much drama in the tag." and here you are, adding to it and making it an even bigger spectacle. admit that you like it in plain language, or prove your distaste by ceasing all the encouragement of that behavior when you give it attention. A LOT of people will make the drama they caused a byler tag-wide event, because it's encouraged by many. other people engage with it and make them feel better about whatever they did or believe. stop doing that, and maybe the tag won't have at least one person venting about their latest skirmish every day. you don't need to weigh in on someone else's drama, the same way that they don't need to air that stuff out to thousands of people to begin with. you can't pick a "side" and throw shade in your post and think you got away with "not adding to the drama" because you added something towards the end about how we all need to chill or whatever. actions speak way louder than words, and you're failing to lead by example by not being able to take your own advice.

piggybacking off of that, a majority of the time, the drama in question is just two people disagreeing about something and one of them taking it personally, which isn't even drama to begin with. not everyone is going to agree with you. even if they do, their life history is likely to make them see things differently anyway, regardless of whether they reach the same conclusion or not. groupthink is dangerous. if you can't handle speaking to people that don't agree with you, or fail to understand that someone not falling in line with you isn't some failing of your own or an attack on your person, then i simply don't think you're mature enough yet to engage in healthy debate or discussion with others at large. unless someone is being mean and cruel, their opinion on fiction isn't ever about you as a person. banish that narcissistic thinking, and i promise you you'll feel a million times freer and more confident in your beliefs. also, freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. no one should be made to feel afraid to share their opinion because others will take it personally and attack them if they do.

this is preachy as fuck, but idc. sometimes i scroll through this tag and come to the harrowing realization that i've managed elementary school classrooms (grades k-3, specifically) with better sportsmanship and communication skills. we all like byler and want to see more byler content. that's why we come to #byler! stop flooding this tag with so much unnecessary shit and then complaining about it. i'm here to read about my blorbos, not your routinely scheduled squabbling that could've been easily avoided!!!