Welcome to another tirade. I hate Facebook. I love Facebook. Currently I have been on a Facebook fast for about three weeks. I don't miss it. I used to allow hours upon hours of my life become sucked into the vortex known as Facebook. Now I don't. Facebook doesn't need me. It never did. I needed it. Or so I thought. My children and I often talk about want versus need. I know logically I didn't need Facebook, I wanted Facebook. I wanted to accumulate "friends" and see (stalk) what others were doing. I have a Facebook friend that posts concerning her morning goings-on everyday. "I walked five miles, did seven loads of laundry, washed two sinks full of dishes, found a cure for cancer and ended world hunger, now it's 8:00am and I need to get my four kids to school so I can get back home to strip and refinish all the furniture in our home by dinner tonight. We're having co co van." REALLY? Does someone need external validation or what? Don't get me wrong, she's a great woman but let's be honest. Are you tooting your own horn a little too much or are you trying to make everyone else feel inferior? It's not working here. I can feel inferior all on my own. (Not really.) Eleanor Roosevelt once said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." It makes me sad that so many people need to be validated by others to feel worthy. Regardless of my number of Facebook friends, I am a good person. I don't need 300 people I haven't seen in years to tell me I am. I have three excellent most cherished girlfriends and they know I am worthy because I show them I am everyday.
Facebook is contributing to the downfall of today's society. It perpetuates the impersonal nature of communication that is texting and emailing. No need to have a real grown-up relationship with inimate talks when I can text you. OMG! One sentence emailed or texted can be read any number of ways. Hearing the intonation in my voice as it leaves my lips is the sure way of understanding my intent for the words I choose.
I haven't the time today to expound on my feelings concerning Facebook and marriage. Let's just say I have many feelings and they aren't nice ones. Is Facebook necessary? No. Is it fun? Sometimes. Is it dangerous? Yes it can be. Is it going to go away? The Magic Eight Ball says: signs point to "no." It's scary to think of how one digital venue has changed our society in such a profound manner.
Great posting, Kara. I see Facebook as one more way that our culture is becoming more egocentric -- it's all about me, right?
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