Last night, I gave up Facebook...just for a day; mostly because I was doubted. There's a bigger, sort of deeper reason why, though and I didn't really realize it until after the fact (I have an hour and a half left before my full day is up). I thought maybe I'd get more done or spend more time with my husband and just feel better about myself all around. None of these things happened. I managed to finish a book I was reading, my husband played video games all night (a typical Wednesday night, because it's the only night he can stay up late to play) and I've been sitting here all day feeling a little bit lonely and out of touch. It has, however, forced me to think about things. I posted something yesterday that had a little bit too much information (not "dirty" TMI, but intimate details, I suppose) and a friend called me out on it. She told me I posted too many intimate details on Facebook and then I got mad when people used them against me. All true. So, after being annoyed that I got called out and having doubt put into my head about what I post, I decided to just try to give it up altogether. I clearly can't be trusted to just post less and it's too hard for me not to get into something while I'm on there. I've threatened a few times now to stop using it and quite a few people have begged me not to, because supposedly my updates make them laugh. While I'm thrilled that I make so many people laugh and I love that people are paying that much attention, it's also starting to freak me out. I've been thinking about how much simpler things used to be. The days when the world was less connected. I can remember when three-way calling was such a big deal and it was exciting to be able to talk to two of your friends at once, when you were all in different places!! I remember going to the mall with friends and having to call collect from a pay phone and instead of saying my name at the beep, trying to squeeze in my message "momit'smecomepickmeup." Now, everywhere you go, you're connected to everyone you know. You can log onto Facebook on your phone...which now goes wherever you do and it's completely unheard of not to have one or to have left it at home. You can now "check in" to any place you want to, thus letting the world know exactly where you are and when you're there. You don't even have to personally know someone to know where they live; what they look like; how many kids they have and how old they are; where they work; what time they get HOME from work; who their best friends are; what their significant others' name is and how long they've been together; what they had for dinner, etc. You get the point. We can post music videos or newspaper articles or links to favorite pages. It started out as a good thing (and in some ways still is), but it's opened all of us to so much more ridicule and hatred than we should ever be exposed to. It's not so simple anymore to just walk away from a bully, because now they're on the internet. They might be one of your own friends who just enjoys antagonizing everyone and arguing for the sake of arguing. Or they might be a friend of a friend, thus making it almost impossible to comment on anything your friend says, for fear of being attacked by this antagonist. We're too over-exposed anymore and it's making everyone angry.
(Sort of a side note) Does anyone else remember the days when talking about who we voted for was a taboo subject? It used to be a secret which party you belonged to or who you planned on voting for in the next election. Now, voting is the next biggest fad. It's another way for those that DO vote to make those that DON'T vote think they're better than them. "You should vote or you have no right to complain." I disagree with this. I will admit that I am not even registered to vote. I dont follow politics and I don't undertand politics, so I leave it up to those that DO know, to make the decisions. I find this to be a perfectly reasonable excuse and I'm tired of being criticized for it. Frankly, if you DO vote, you have no reason to complain. You're the one that voted for this person!! You picked him and all of the philosophies he had. Any of the decisions that this person makes, good or bad, fall back on the voters. If you voted for him, you have no right to complain about what he does. I did not vote for him. Therefore, I can complain about those who did. At this point, it's a matter of the lesser of two evils. They all lie to get the votes and then they do what they want when in office. If we left the voting up to those who knew what they were really doing and didn't make it such a big deal for EVERYONE to vote, maybe we'd start having some politicians who know what they're doing as well. Trendy voters vote for trendy candidates. Here's an example of why I don't vote. Two candidates were running. One of them wanted to start tolling a major highway that I drive to work every single day-no thanks. The other one wanted to make abortion illegal-also no thanks. I was told that I needed to pick which one of those issues was more important and vote for that. How about no? I don't agree with EITHER of those, so why would I vote for either of them? It makes no sense to me!
Facebook has made it easier and easier for people who think their way of life and their opinions and their standards are the only ones to shove it in everybody else's faces. And while it is entirely true that I don't care what other people think of me, I'm starting to be uncomfortable with the amount of information people know. I'm an open book and I'll tell you whatever it is you want to know, but it's really pretty unneccesary for me to share it with 300 of my "friends." I have family members, co-workers, ex-friends, ex-boyfriends, people I hate, people I don't even KNOW and even one of my husbands co-workers on my friends list. There is nothing in the world I can say that won't get back to someone who shouldn't hear it. While I generally try to shy away from the latest fads, I somehow managed to get so completely caught up in Facebook that my life revolves around it. The last 23 hours have been more difficult than I expected. I'm suddenly so un-connected from everyone. I have no idea what's going on with my favorite shows, or where all my friends are or what the latest annoyance is today. Sadly enough, Facebook is where I get my NEWS!! So now, while I'm definitely going to go back to using it because I hate the feeling of being disconnected, I will absolutely cut back on the amount of things I post and how involved it is in my life. There is no reason to tell people what I'm having for lunch or how cold it is at my desk. With my new free time I will make my house a little bit more presentable, watch some movies or go out to dinner with my husband or polish off the pile of 50+ books waiting to be read. And maybe I'll get a little more educated the old-fashioned way.
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