Who doesn’t love the sound of a WhatsApp ‘ping’? Will it be some juicy gossip? A joke maybe, or a funny video? Or perhaps it will be the group misery guts wanting to offload with yet more whining? “Complaining is a great way to release emotions and frustrations, but negative emotions are contagious,” says psychotherapist Kamalyn Kaur. “Just as we can lift other people with our happiness, negativity and complaining can bring the emotional state of people down.” Jenny Phenix recently felt the consequences of complaining in a WhatsApp group.
The divorcee was booked on a $500,000, three-year-long luxury cruise, but when her stream of negative messages in a passenger chat came to light, she was banned from boarding the vessel, with the cruise operator saying her comments had ‘impacted community morale’. So are you a WhatsApp group whinger, too? Here’s how to spot the signs you might be, while Kamalyn advises how to moderate your moaning in all your group chats. These groups involve multiple generations, so you don’t want to be the middle-aged misery constantly complaining about the young’uns using too many emojis and not writing in sentences.
‘What does IYKWIM mean? Why are you all laughing at an aubergine?’ Do you fail to comment on good news and holiday snaps but pile in with complaints about relatives not sending birthday cards or doing their bit when it comes to caring for elderly relations? “Family groups require careful navigation,” says Kamal.