Warning! Do not read this editorial if you are easily distracted, find yourself constantly wasting time or are failing classes because you cannot get off the computer. I am serious. These websites can suck you in and drain hours and hours of your days. If you are the king of procrastinating and are just looking for new content to waste time on, you may proceed.
I don't know about you all, but I get really bored looking at Facebook sometimes, especially with the new layout. Sure, I check out YouTube videos and play online games, but sometimes I just want an easy site to scroll through and laugh. I am sure many of you have heard of these sites, but for those who have not, check them out. Just don't blame me when you forget to do a quiz because you went through 658 pages of posts.
All of these websites are user-generated. That means any person can submit something, and the facilitators of the site will chose what to post. Most of these websites feature "stories" or little blurbs from random people around the world about their lives, their interests, their misfortune or anything else they might feel like sharing.
FMyLife: This is a vent site where people post the sucky, horrible things that occur in their day. It's an opportunity for people to laugh at other people's misfortune. As the site explains itself, it is geared more toward pessimists. If you are having a down day, jump on this website, and you will be sure to find someone else out there who had a worse day then you. And as much as we don't want to admit it, reading about someone else's sucky days tends to make ours just a little better.
My Life is Average: This is a site where people will post everyday about average things that occur in their lives. It's a simple, positive outlook on an average life. It's more of a warm chuckle, and sometimes people's plain and ordinary lives can be the most fascinating things ever, particularly when you are avoiding writing a history paper.
Gives Me Hope: This is a self described FMyLife for optimist site. People will post stories about what inspires them. There are stories about everything from random acts of kindness to a friend really being there in a time of need to something that made them smile and they want to share. It's a great inspirational site, and many of the comments on the stories share in that hopeful outlook.
Love Gives Me Hope: This is the mushier sister site of Gives Me Hope, but all the stories have a romantic thread or unconditional love strung through them. There are stories of the 80-year-old couple still in love to the girl asked out on her first date by the boy she loves to the marriage that overcame all obstacles. The website describes the posts as "stories that make you go awww."
OMG Facts: This is a compiling of interesting facts. It's a good site just to go to in search of new, random information. I like to browse this site before a social engagement, so I can whip out one of the facts during an awkward lull. Just try and screen them and make sure you only share the appropriate facts, especially in a large crowd.
Six Billion Secrets: This is a site where people go and post their secrets. It can be sad, especially when someone posts a secret that is crying for help, but it can also be comforting to see that someone else shares the same secret you share. According to some users through posts and comments, it can be a very healing tool, especially to see others going through what you are going through.
Texts from Last Night: Users will submit texts they received last night that they find humorous. Generally these texts contain events including alcohol, sexual conduct or both, so be warned. Many of you have probably either sent or received a text just like the ones on this website. If you have not, good for you. For the rest of you, read, laugh, and remember the good and not so good nights.
People of Wal-Mart: You know how when you go to Wal-Mart you can see some pretty crazy, tacky or just in bad taste outfits? This website allows people to submit photos of the most puzzling and jaw dropping ensembles they witness at the store. One additional thing to take from this site—always check your outfit before you head to Wally World. You do not want to be one of these unfortunate people.
Damn You Auto Correct: You know how some phones have an auto correct feature that tries to fix what you said when the phone thinks you mistyped something? Or have you ever had it guess a different word than the one you were trying to type? And you don't check the text before sending it, and you send a text that was completely different from what you meant to say? Have no fear, there are hundreds of people out there in the same boat as you and happy to share their misfortune of texts with the world.
My last recommendation is not the typical "user generated sties" like the rest of these, but it is one of my favorite sites. Stumble Upon will show you parts of the Internet that you had no idea even existed. Create an account on Stumble Upon, and choose all of your interests from the extensive list they have. Click stumble, and it will bring you page after page filled with content the website thinks you would like. Click that you like a page, and it will find more related content. Click that you don't like a page, and it will filter those sites out for you. It is the perfect custom-made time wasting site.
I am a pretty boring person, so I apologize if none of these are appealing. I hope at least one catches your eye. What are your favorite time wasting sites? Comment at www.therotundaonline.com!
