Why I took a Facebook Hiatus
Or a week or so at least. Hey, I’m as guilty as the next. I scroll, update and post on the regular. There’s a reason it has 800 million users and counting. Facebook is addictive. You feel inclined to read, stalk and share. Only in this forum would stalking be the more acceptable practice out of the three. In this case, it’s the sharing that’s the problem.
No one posts about the mundane. Unless, of course, you’re one of those people, in which case, let’s talk. There’s a fine line between sharing and over-sharing. Find it, people. Take some time to contemplate the do’s and don’ts of social networking. Posting about the difficulties of your day in a hilarious fashion? Do. Detailing the minutia of your moment-less morning: wakeup time, workout results, to-do list… Don’t. Some things are better left unshared.
While we’re on the subject, please save the love notes for private viewing. Email him or her, jot it down it on a note or in a card or, here’s a novel idea, say it to them in person! We don’t need to be a third party in your relationship. If you love them, you’re proud of them or you appreciate them, great, tell them, not us!
Oh and one more thing, either say it or don’t, enough of these cryptic and leading messages. Don’t make us fish for info, ask, “What happened?” or work for it. We work enough as is. Sure, it may be the biggest attention-seeking site out there but try not to take it to a middle school, beauty pageant, reality TV level of desperation.
In the beginning (I joined in 2007— so relieved it didn’t exist during my volatile schoolgirl years!), I made the mistake of an occasional smug post or two. Since then, I’ve tried to refrain from bragging. It’s not cute. Now I try to ration my status updates as much as possible and temper them with a little self-deprecation and some not so boast-worthy moments. After all, that’s what I find endearing and humorous in others’. My “likes” are distributed to friends that make me laugh at and with them, feel for them or become inspired. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see your kids grow up, champion your successes, be there for you during difficult times and offer and receive advice. I just don’t want to hear about your daily treadmill results, hourly schedule, contents of your baby’s diaper (I swear those posts exist!), or that person who did you wrong, “you know who you are”. Well, we don’t. So either tell us or refrain from posting. Save the drama for your mama and please do so on the phone. For the love of God, don’t post it on her page!