The internet is so weird. The world right now is so weird. When did it become normal to post every detail of your life online for all to see? Honestly, most of my Facebook "friends" are not really my friends. Thats not to say that I don't like them, but I just don't actually talk to them in real life. Heck, I don't even talk to them on Facebook. I just read about their life as they post it. Doesn't that seem a little stalkerish to anyone else? I mean, think about it, we "follow" people. We "like" their posts. We see pictures of all they do, know about everywhere they go and everything they eat, but we don't actually have conversations with them. Most of them we haven't even seen in person for years. Just saying...stalkerish.
All that being said, I have found Facebook to be a useful tool when it comes to keeping in touch with long distance friends or getting out information, which is why I am now trying to decide whether or not to leave my account up. If I do, I need to set some ground rules, which so far consist of the following:
- Don't get the Facebook app on my phone or add the Facebook link back to my favorites bar. This will help prevent me from just opening it without thinking and then wasting a ton of time.
- Unfriend everyone who is not actually my friend. This probably sounds mean. But, let me be honest for a minute. I have a lot of "friends" who are only my friends because I am curious about how they turned out after high school. (I know I am not the only one...) That is no longer a good enough reason for me. I want Facebook to become something positive instead of continue to be negative as it has been in the past. Using it to see what so-and-so is doing these days only makes me tend toward judging others, and I don't want to do that anymore.
- Do not post or participate in controversial discussions on Facebook. I already talked about why that is a bad idea for me in my previous post. I have plenty of opinions, if you want to know what they are, we can talk about it in person, or I will share them here.
- Only use Facebook as a platform to share my blog, important information, or uplifting messages.
Agreed. I've been thinking long and hard about what to do about FB ever since I hit my middle life crisis. (you think I jest but turning 40 threw me for a loop) I think I am mostly positive on it. I post funny kid stories or just funny but the other stuff you mentioned can be a turn off. Not to mention, just the perception that everyone else's life is so much cooler than your own. I'd love to sit and talk more about this with you. But you would be in Utah ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, if you ever come up for a visit...I think social media can be different for different people. I find blogging to be a positive experience (including writing on my own blog and reading other people's blogs) but FB always leaves me feeling blah afterward. I never sign off FB and think, "how refreshing! I learned so much and feel inspired to be better!" and I'm pretty sure I won't look back on my life when I'm old and think, "I wish I had spent more time posting on Facebook." But, I'm sure many people think differently than me. All in all, I definitely think its something I can live without.
DeleteI have been thinking about it too. I am going to go through a purging....
ReplyDeleteDon't delete me mar! I might not be considered a friend to you but I really love seeing what you are up to and if you are well. I am glad you are blogging again! I live reading it!
Maggie you are absolutely a friend! I am positive I would have a real-life conversation with you if I had the opportunity (we all live so far apart now) so don't worry about that. I like FB for those reasons too, its nice to see what long-distance pals are up to.
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