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They say now that one of the reasons little is being donated to help the victims of the latest natural disasters around the globe is "disaster fatigue." They believe there have been so many disasters in recent years that we developed an "I already gave to a natural disaster" attitude toward pleas for relief.

Some of you are no doubt furrowing brows wondering, "They, who?" I always wondered who "they" are, as well. We seem to believe everything "they" say. "They" tell us that eggs are bad for our cholesterol and then "they" inform us years later that eggs are actually good for us. "They" predict who will win elections and then "they" tell us why we voted the way we did.

After pondering the age-old question, "They, who?" for most of my adult life, I've come to a conclusion. It is my belief that "they" are a hybrid group of university researchers and Associated Press reporters that gathers over lattes to solve all the mysteries of the world. However, it is also my cynical belief that this hybrid coffee-drinking group has been infiltrated by a few undercover government workers sent to strategically plant propaganda.

Now that we are all clear regarding whom "they" are and from where "information" originates, we can delve into this notion of disaster fatigue.

They say that hearing about and viewing images of multiple natural disasters in a relatively short period of time can cause the general public to think of the disasters as one event. The disasters, for all intents and purposes, lose their individuality.

We become so desensitized that we react to giving to earthquake relief in China much the way we do to the tenth child who knocks on the door selling wrapping paper to raise money for a much needed playground.

Add to that our lack of resources in the current American economy. What does one who just missed another mortgage payment and has extended, unemployed family to feed say to those collecting for any type of fundraiser or relief effort? I'm guessing that the economic stimulus checks are not going to be used for disaster relief or playgrounds. Rather, the money will be a means of borrowing time for those barely keeping their heads above water.

Sure, some folks are not in dire financial shape at the moment. Some people can actually choose how to spend their stimulus light-breeze-fall -- as opposed to windfall -- without worrying about their next house payment. These are the people lucky enough to put the money toward gasoline.

Of course we are suffering from disaster fatigue. I dare say we have taken ill, in various degrees of severity, with a more general "money-spending fatigue" during this time of decline into the recession toward which "they" say we might be headed.

On top of disaster fatigue and money-spending fatigue, I believe there has been an outbreak of different, but just as serious, strains of fatigue among the American public.

Reality television fatigue comes to mind. At first, the unscripted shows were new, exciting and fresh. It was thrilling to tune in and see what might happen when 15 selfish, single, beautiful people were locked in a house for months, or sent to an island to outwit each other.

But now, we are getting weary of watching famous people's children spit up caviar and regular people's children challenging professional nannies. If television is wall-to-wall reality, to what do we turn to escape our own crazy realities?

Soccer moms do not need to spend their 30 free minutes a week watching other soccer moms do what they've been doing all week. Soccer moms want to escape into fantasies that involve childless couples who share light, scripted banter over expensive, sit-down, candle-lit restaurant food.

And then there is e-fatigue. Paperless is great, don't misunderstand me. However, must everything that comes across our computer desktop be dubbed e-something? E-mail is fine. But e-tag, e-hug, e-newsletters, e-updates ... give mE a break! I hate to be the one to deliver the news. But since no one else seems to have the courage, here goes:

ATTENTION: It is no longer clever or creative to slap an "e" in front of a word, with or without a hyphen, just because of the electronic nature of the communication or product. So STOP it!

See what happens when we suffer from too much fatigue? We get cranky and snippy. We need something to counteract the effects of what I am labeling Multiple Fatigue Syndrome or MFS. If you, too, are suffering from MFS, try my home remedy. Sit for a spell, alone, on a porch with something to read and a cup of herbal tea. Do this once each day for as long as it takes.

And hurry, before "they" come out with reports on the adverse effect of porch-sitting.

Micki Bare is a columnist for the Arkansas News Bureau and the Courier-Tribune in Asheboro, N.C., and author of the book, "Relative Expressions." She lives in Asheboro with her husband and three children. Her e-mail address is mickibare@inspiredscribe.com.