No, don't despair! I'm convinced that most people really are reasonable, reasoning human beings, able to, if not see things from another person's point of view, at least appreciate that one could exist, and it's just something about social media that shuts down our ability to communicate with each other. Humanity really is much better than it appears on the internet - that's my observation after spending all of what, two weeks? off Twitter and FB. (Except I still sneak on to check out what's going on once a day or so, but shhhh, don't tell anyone.)

As for pencils - why DO even the good ones never sharpen properly? Is it the fault of the sharpener, and the pencils just take the blame? Or are they equally at fault? Or is it me? ONE OF LIFE'S MYSTERIES.