JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<span id='container'>
    <a href='#' id='first'>First Link</a>
    <a href='#' id='second'>Second Link</a>
</span>

JavaScript

var first = document.getElementById('first')
var second = document.getElementById('second')


//this doesn't call the alert
first.addEventListener('click', function(){alert('sup!');})


//but this does...ffffff

function message_me(m_text){
    alert(m_text)
}

second.addEventListener('click', function() {message_me('shazam');}) //why is it firing off this function when I haven't even told it to?