Social networking? Good or bad?
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest, YouTube, Path, Instagram, Foursquare…..I could go on…
Well, some years ago I chose to open a Facebook account. With it came a cauldron of emotion that I didn’t bargain for. It has, I have to say (somewhat feebly) been quite life-changing or perhaps more aptly, I have let it become so. Isn’t that pathetic? Is my life really so uninteresting that I have to rely on FB for the thrills and spills of my day? Well yes, I thought so or at least believed that was true when I first ‘got into it’. Now, I am clambering to get out of it!
To start with It was a good way to stay in touch with friends, follow their lives, share their holiday snaps, admire their families etc. A lot of it was positive but there are also many negatives too, just as there are two sides to a coin. It is so easy to get hooked into the ‘Like’, ‘Comment’ and ‘Share’ routine and FB gradually becomes disproportionately prominent in one’s life and it can come quickly become a love/hate relationship. I know it did in mine and quite quickly became addictive (not helped by the fact that I have an addictive personality anyway). I got hooked….well and truly….I would get up in the morning and (in the absence of having either a partner, family or children), it was the first thing I did – I checked Facebook for anything I might have missed or looked for messages from friends, looked to see who had ‘Liked’, ‘Commented’ on or ‘Shared’ whose posts, (a post consisting of an opinion, a feeling, a photo, an image, a quote, a recipe, a weather forecast, a status such as 🙂 [smile], 😦 [frown], 😉 [wink], etc or what colour pyjamas were being worn, or indeed if there were any being worn at all (no doubt accompanied by a photo!). Everyone seemed to be on FB and if you weren’t, you were considered somewhat of an odd-bod or not ‘cool’.
However, having become a veteran of many years on FB, I’ve come to the see the other side of it (or at least in my opinion). I’m tried of all the pointless exchanging of useless information, the endless and tedious ‘selfies’. the numerous photos of people’s dinners or wonderful pets etc). I don’t like the bitchiness that sometimes goes on; I don’t like the trouble and problems it actually causes sometimes between friends, acquaintances and families. In my case, it has become a weapon of war between my children and myself (as some of you will know) whereby both my son and daughter have ‘blocked’ me meaning I am not allowed to see or know anything they might post about their lives (as in reality, sadly) and they can deny the privilege of seeing photos of my grandchildren that everyone else can see (and that hurts, believe me, that does hurt in the absence of any real life photos or visits from them.
I have to say, I am now slowly withdrawing from the all-consuming Facebook and intend to deactivate or delete my account shortly. A sorry tale in the end but maybe a case of ‘too much of a good thing’ or in my case, too much of too many bad things. Having said that, it works for a hell of a lot of people so if it’s good for you then I am genuinely pleased for you, in fact generally quite happy for you 🙂 . So, I guess what I am really saying is……IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT!!
Essentially Ellie 
I’m sorry facebook has turneed into such a bad activity for you to engage in. Only you know whats best for you. If that means deleting your account then you should do it. I personally like fb and find it helpful for connecting with other blind people, old school friends, family etc. xX
Thank you. I’m genuinely glad that Facebook has helped you – I know it does have many good points as well as the negative ones that I have unfortunately encountered. Perhaps I shouldn’t generalize so much, Ellie xxx
Years ago – I gave FB a brief whirl – and then decided – nope – it was becoming too “gimicky” – too many silly things – almost like a popularity contest. What started out as a means and ways of reaching out – finding friends – from high school – changed – quickly – which is normal – but suddenly – there’s all this “stuff happening.”
I suppose that in some ways – for some – it works well – as a tool or message service that can help solidify their “selling points” i.e. if you’re an author or whatever – but honestly, I think the world needs far less “selfies” and more self-less-ness.
Acts of kindness, compassion, sincerity, honesty, and the ability to relate – on a day-to-day basis – as opposed to being glued to a mobile screen … well … that’s just me. So no, I don’t FB. Not now.
Maybe one day I’ll have reason to – who knows? But for the moment, I’m just fine the way I am.
I hope you find your comfort zone in making whatever choices are right for you Ellie.
Hugs
XXX
Thanks Mj. Sometimes I feel that Facebook exists on a continuum of wasted space and too much information! Controversial maybe. It has it’s uses but I’m not sure it is worth the level of discomfort. The jury is still out…. Hugs, Ellie xxx 🙂
I think you just summed it up perfectly ….
honestly ….
“I feel that Facebook exists on a continuum of wasted space and too much information!”
Brilliant!
Hugs back Ellie XXX