If it isn't getting you any further in your life, it definitely doesn't deserve your attention.

When you try to help people and they get you wrong, it’s probably your fault for trying to help them.

I used to be part of various online bbs and forums. I even had my own forum about a dance style with thousands of members. There, I learned to choose the right words and be polite towards the participants because I was a moderator. And because of that, I started to be more like an observer than a participant. And it worked just fine until now that I decided to participate on a discussion.

Today someone came up with a topic about an event that would bring some actors from an American TV Serie to our country. Out of curiosity, I took a look on it. The event reminded me about a business model that some marketing agencies in Brazil use to bring foreign stars. And I was, in a really not so business manner, discussing about it. At first people said they didn't get me, so I explained it further - and that was my problem. I was target as someone that changed a funny topic to something boring. My reaction was to post a “Oh whoa. Hhahahahaahah” after their reaction because I was feeling awful.

It is part of my country’s culture this impulsive and explosive way of dealing with things. That’s why we are one of the leading countries on Soap Opera - we like to watch the dirty, talking behind the back, backstabbing, who is right who is wrong thing. I personally don't like it - after you notice that this kind of behavior takes so much time of your day, you just don't want to be part of it. Those drama always bugged me, although I have learned to control myself and not incite the war. And there I was trying to figure out what happened there, where I was wrong.

In this case, I could only say “Oh whoa (laughs)” and left it there. I laugh because this is the only thing I can do for something that terrifies me the most - the comeback of the explosive dramatic me. And it seemed that people want to see that happening, they want the drama. I could try to explain my point of view again; talk about the fact that the company bringing those actors don't have a portfolio/history, or even the most simple one, the price of the ticket for the attraction. But I decided to leave it as is.

It’s not worth to discuss something based on a “you made it boring” comment, not even if the comment attacks you personally. I shouldn't have leaded the discussion to a level that maybe people are not ready for. The weirdest part is that I just pointed out that maybe, just maybe, they shouldn't believe in such company. And it was completely my fault for trying to help - I should either go back to the observer mode or should just stop trying to make conversation over things that aren’t really interesting to me or just quit this group. I would just feel sad to later know that people got their hopes high and they ended up with their face on the ground. But hey, it’s not anyone business to cut the hope from anyone! And, of course, they clearly didn't want to talk about business there.

So, next time something comes up and it makes you burn up, take a step back. Try to see the reasons why you are part of that and just don't get yourself drawn into it. You're probably wrong for saying anything even if it matters. And if the discussion isn't going to get you any further in your life, it definitely doesn't deserve your attention. Don’t crash, boom, burn up for it.