Break the Chain

I've never been one who's good at being forced to do something.  If I do something, 90 percent of the time it's because I want to not because I have to.  It's easier to be sincere in that respect.  One of my first tastes of feeling bitter over being forced to do something, other than chores assigned by my parents, was the infamous chain letter.  At first I thought, 'what a genius idea!' and got to know the in's and out's of learning how it worked after receiving one.
  Chain letters are letters which promise a phenomenal return on a small effort. The simplest form of a chain letter contains a list of x people. You are supposed to send something to the top person on the list. Then you remove the top person on the list, sliding the second person into the top position, add yourself in the bottom position, make y copies of the letter, and mail them to your friends. The promise is that you will eventually receive y of x somethings in return.  You do this assuming that everyone on the list is honest and just perpetuating the "chain."  
This is where my problem came in.  So if I didn't do it, was I being dishonest, a let down, and supposed to be guilt ridden?  The fun and excitement instantly faded when I felt I'd been locked in to something that now was a chore. I didn't control who sent me the letter, why was I suddenly under contract?  Sure, I had my time to let them know I wasn't going to participate...which made me look like a snob, irresponsible, or resulted in making up a lame excuse of why I couldn't do their chain.  It was a no win situation and so I ended up doing it anyway and hating every minute of it, meanwhile hardly ever receiving anything in the mail in return.  And then I thought, did these people really want to be sending this letter to me, or were they just going through the motions?  It made the sincerity of the project seem less genuine.  
Now, years later I'm seeing a new version of chain letters.  It doesn't cost a thing and really doesn't take any time, but it still leaves me with the same feelings.  I'm sure most of you have done this, so it's nothing against you personally, I just have my usual opinion of it.
Facebook posts.  Here are several examples and see if you can pull out what has me irritated:
A 15 year old girl holds hands with her 1 year old son. People call her a slut, no one knows she was raped at 14. People call another guy fat. No one knows he has a serious disease causing him to be over weight. People call an old man ugly. No one knew he had a serious injury to his face while fighting for our country in the war. Re post this if you're against bullying and stereotyping. I bet 99% of you won't.♥

Have u ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, and H are the Letters used to define bra sizes? But couldn't figure out what the letters stood for. Well its time you became informed! (A) Almost boobs. (B) Barely there. (C) Can't Complain! (D) Damn! (DD) Double Damn!(E) Enormous! (F) Fake. (G) Get a Reduction. (H) Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up! ~Repost if u love a good laugh.

A mom ALWAYS thinks about her kids, even if they're not with her.
♥ A mom loves her kids in a way that they will never understand (until they have their own).
♥ A mom will be there for her kids when no one else will.
♥ A mom will catch a grenade, take a bullet, stand in front of a train, & ask God to take her instead of her child.
♥ If you have children that you love as much as I love mine, post this as your status.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL! MY GENERATION GREW UP RECITING THIS EVERY MORNING IN SCHOOL WITH MY HAND ON MY HEART. THEY NO LONGER DO THAT FOR FEAR OF OFFENDING SOMEONE! LET'S SEE HOW MANY AMERICANS WILL RE-POST THIS AND NOT CARE ABOUT OFFENDING SOMEONE.

A person has 1000 wishes. A soldier only has one, to come home safe to his family. I know 97% of you won't post this as your status, but the 3% that do are my friends.
When u carry a Bible, the devil gets a headache. When u open it, he collapses. When he see's u reading it, he faints. When he see's u living it, he flees. And just when ur about 2 re-post this, he will try & and;discourage u. I just defeated him. Like, Copy & and paste if ur in God's Army.

These are just a few within the last day that I've seen stream across.  I'm perfectly fine with posting feelings about parenthood, religion, America, soldiers, etc. but it's the last sentence that sends my annoyance on overdrive.  So, if I don't re-post I'm:  1. In support of bullying and stereotyping.  2.  Don't enjoy laughing.  3.  I don't love my children as much as you love yours.  4.  I fear offending someone.  5.  Am threatened at the fact that the 3 percent who do re-post are only your true friends.  6.  OR that I am easily defeated by the devil and am not in God's Army.
FYI, if I want to re-post it, I will.  Don't use threats and guilt as a way to spread the message.  Please, I beg people...BREAK THE CHAIN!!
*Re-post if you agree with me.