After having spent some time on FaceBook, I have narrowed down my reasons for why I waited soooooooo long to create a profile to ONE specific reason. It’s feels like Junior High.
If you’re using this tool to reconnect with people from your school days, you may be more than disappointed for the following reasons:
- Remember the movie “Mean Girls”, well those people still exist but they’re adults now. Just not mature adults. While it may be obvious to some, others, like myself included, like to believe that there is still some good to be found in some people. Don’t believe for a second that because they have a marriage or children that they have grown up. Big Mistake.
- If you refuse to play games with anyone, you are immediately unfriended. This, above any other act on Facebook, is perhaps the most vile. Maybe I’m on a deadline at work and I can’t drop everything because my boss has demanded my attention for an indefinite amount of time. Maybe I don’t feel like giving even more personal identifying information to an app or company that will use this information for other purposes. Or maybe its because I find games online to be a real time suck. If someone refuses to play, its not personal, so why go to the trouble of making it so.
On some level I know my expectations in reconnecting with people may be a little high, so I am practicing forgiveness. Because, as they say, living in the past results in anger, worrying about the future makes you anxious, but to live in the present is the best gift you can give yourself.
What’s been your experience?
It’s too much information on Facebook. I find out things about old friends that I would have been better off not knowing.
At least some of it is showboating or grandstanding for an audience. It’s better to keep a check on that.
I get the grandstanding or the “it’s all about me” aspect of FaceBook. I don’t mind that so much. Not everyone has time to play certain games. The one time I played Words with Friends was because I was on vacation. In other ways I lend my support to former classmates with supporting/liking their businesses or liking family pictures.
Of course, I haven’t lived in the area for 20 years and that may make a difference. Not sure. I think your right, it’s best not to take it too seriously.
I agree with sylviawrites blog however I am not as eloquent as her and unable to express my likes and dislikes of facebook as well as sylviawrites does.
I joined facebook specifically so I could post on and share photos with a local history group.
A lot of the stuff within that group is relevant and on topic and when threads go off topic it is generally in a fun and acceptable way however some people get extremely nasty when disagreed with even when it is proved that they were wrong on a fact or about the location of a historic photo or building.
Some people also seem to think it is a dating site which the group definitely is not.
I accepted several friends requests within the group although I never sent any only to find people unfriending me when I declined to meet in person.
I subsequently deleted my facebook account rather than risk offending anyone.
I also joined a history group. I like the interaction there. So far no one has been rude or gone off topic. The most off-topic we’ve been is when we do discuss things like old TV programming. Overall, it has a very nice nostalgic feel and the moderator is quite friendly. I feel fortunate to have found them.
I like FB for what it is: a tool to help you connect with family and friends. I only make friends with close family members and a few others who have proven to be friends towards me over time. I lock my profile down so that I am not visible in searches and so that my comments and albums are only available to my friends. I treasure being able to connect with my granddaughter and grandson in this way and given that they only communicate in this way (other than some texting from my grandson), FB has proven to be a blessing. I don’t play games and early on I made that announcement. As for personal comments that might be construed as disrespectful or hurtful (and I’ve not experienced anything like that to date, perhaps because of the very small circle I’ve created … 23 people), knowing me I would not return them, thereby escalating the negativity. But given that this has not happened over the few years I’ve been a member, it’s not been a concern.
FB provides me with a wonderful opportunity to connect with my loved ones and friends by the means of pictures, quick private chats and a few silly comments throughout the day. It is what it is…or perhaps… it is what you make of it. With some careful early steps in how I set up my profile and group of friends, I’ve truly appreciated it.
That sounds wonderful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. đŸ™‚