OH – “Put a headline on your post.”

For maximum accuracy of my current qualm with social media, I just said to myself, out loud, “Put a headline on your post,” and then typed it, preceded by “OH,” which means I just committed the hideous task in question, not with the intent of hypocrisy, but rather with the intent of a valid example to use.

“OH,” in social media, is an abbreviation for “overheard.” Although, if you actually pronounce the abbreviation as the word, “oh,” then I guess it would be an acronym. But I digress for no reason at all. On the plus side, said digression resulted in another future rant on misidentified acronyms.

Back to overhearing things. Technically, I did overhear, “Put a headline on your post,” as I was listening when I said it. But I was talking to myself. Is the listening portion of that self talk really overhearing something that was fully intended to be heard by the listener? No.

This is my minor annoyance (minor in that it has no consequence or adverse effect on anything aside from the subjective nature of my loathing). The idea of the OH, I believe, is to relay to the entire internet something humorous you overheard some stranger say.

The value in such messages often relies on the out-of-context nature of one hilarious or ridiculous quote. Sometimes, the context is apparent and can still be humorous. Usually, these messages make the person being overheard out to be an idiot. That’s fine, as society enjoys a good collective laugh at a single dolt.

Too often, though, people will stretch for these overheard messages. Imagine Chad and Tad having a conversation. Chad says, “I like horse racing.” Tad immediately goes to Twitter on his fancy phone and tweets, “OH – I like horse racing.”

No, Tad. You did not overhear that. Chad said it to you. You heard it. By claiming you overheard it, you’re ruining the OH experience for the true eavesdroppers. You’re devaluing the mystery of your mindless followers wondering what could’ve prompted someone to say he likes horse racing, as the mere fact is you were having a conversation with someone and claimed to overhear him. Are you facing the other direction? Are you intentionally not listening to him but that one line got through? Tad, you are a scumbag.

If you’re into the OH tweets, go for it. But don’t tell me you overheard something if it was said directly to you. Attribute the quote. Right, journalism majors? Or, start a new H trend. For example: “H – I’m taking it back to the old school ’cause I’m an old fool who’s so cool.”

Attribute that quote to Steve Roll’n, by the way.

Once we get the H and OH trends accurately separated, I will be calm. Ohio residents with an affinity for hydrogen may get upset, though.