The 'Well, Actually...' Army: Why They're Wasting Their Time (and Yours)

You know the feeling. You post something online—a thought, a meme, a random observation. 🤳 You're not writing a PhD thesis, you're just sharing something on the internet.

And then, it happens.

Someone slides into your comments, not with a "haha, same," but with a "Well, actually..." or "Just so you know, it's actually spelled this way..." 🙄

They proceed to write a mini-essay correcting a tiny, insignificant detail you got wrong. They might even mock you for your "pure ignorance."

Let's be real. These people aren't trying to be helpful.

It's a Performance, Not a Favor 🎭

If someone actually wanted to help you, they'd send you a private message. A real friend might text you, "Hey, just so you know, it's actually spelled this way, didn't want you to get flamed lol."

But the "Well, Actually..." army doesn't do that. They need an audience. They put their "correction" on full public display. Why? To establish that they are smarter than you. It's not about sharing knowledge; it's about making themselves look superior in front of everyone else.

The Quick Dopamine Hit of Feeling Smart 🧠

Every time they hit 'reply' with a condescending correction, they get a tiny little dopamine hit. It's a quick, easy way to feel powerful and intelligent without actually achieving anything. They "won" an argument that nobody else was even in.

The funny thing is, this feeling is totally hollow. It's like eating junk food. It feels good for a second, but it gives you zero real nourishment and fades away almost instantly. They have to keep doing it to get that same little rush.

Let's Talk About What's Real: Time and Money 💰

Here's the part that makes me laugh. This emotional satisfaction they get? It's not tangible. You can't pay your rent with "I owned a stranger on the internet today."

Time is tangible. Money is tangible.

I'm not paying them to be my personal fact-checker. And they're certainly not getting paid by anyone else. They are spending their own valuable time—a resource you can never get back—for a fleeting feeling.

It makes you wonder, right? 🤔

If you have all this incredible knowledge, why are you giving it away for free in my comment section? Why aren't you monetizing it? Write a book. Start a paid newsletter. Become a consultant. People pay good money for real expertise. But arguing with strangers for free? That doesn't build anything.

Happy People Don't Do This

At the end of the day, it usually boils down to one simple thing: they're probably frustrated with their own lives.

Think about it. People who are genuinely happy, fulfilled, and busy with their own goals don't have the time or the mental energy to police the internet for minor mistakes. They're focused on their own tangible success—their job, their family, their hobbies, their business. They're not looking for quick, cheap validation from strangers.

So, next time the 'Well, Actually...' army marches into your mentions, just smile.

Don't get angry. Don't engage. Just see it for what it is: a sign that someone out there is bored and needs a quick ego boost. It's not about you being dumb. It’s about them needing a win, any win, no matter how small and meaningless.

Let them have their five seconds of fake glory. You've got better, more tangible things to do. 😉