Being at the computer also allowed me to check my Facebook account, which is almost more overwhelming than I can handle. Back when I signed up for Facebook a couple of months ago, I received a number of comments expressing shock at my decision to do so. I don’t remember roaming the countryside launching into invectives against Facebook or its membership, but perhaps I’ve just tucked those episodes far away in my mind following my decision to join. I think my reluctance had more to do with the seeming nonstop nature of it rather than any superiority I felt to the website or its participants.
After a couple of months as a fringe member of the Facebook community, I’m not critical of it in general. I definitely have questions, though. First of all, how in the hell do some people post so frequently? I can’t even remember whether or not I washed my hair at the end of half of my morning showers. How do people remember to let the world know that they are headed out for a jog? Or honestly, why do you even want to? Again, I'm not critical, I just assume that people don't care whether or not I'm currently noodling over whether the barbecue I just found in the back of my fridge is too old to safely eat for lunch. Some updates read like a real-time journal of a Frank Ricard Saturday.
Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time.
Also, how do people deal with taking what appear to be dozens of pictures a day and posting them? My wife and I have about an 18 month stretch of our lives for which I believe there is not a single shred of photographic evidence. Yet a visit to Facebook leaves me feeling like the only person in my extended network of friends who forgot to photograph and post my half-eaten inaugural Chick-fil-A spicy chicken sandwich.
Either way, God bless you frequent Facebook posters. I say go for it. I honestly wish I was better at the whole thing. Regale us with your inspirational quotes and the results of your journeys to Publix!
I go through phases with FB. Currently/admittedly in "active" poster status.. though I try to keep them interesting-to-some commentary vs. "I'm eating Pizza Hut for dinner" updates. As for time, it's 100% because I'm single now and work from home. And maybe a little work/industry related. But back when the above weren't the case, I was equally mystified.
ReplyDeleteThough isn't blogging just large-scale status updates? I try to write for a blog but feel like I don't have the time... Just sayin... ;)
ReplyDeleteI assume everyone has read this study on narcissism as it relates to facebook...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.science20.com/news_releases/narcissists_can_be_identified_by_their_facebook_accounts_psychologists
Kim- No, blogging is much different than status updates! Only the deepest and most socially impactful topics are covered here. True, I did dedicate an entire post to the fact that I had a Kilbeggans Irish Whiskey and Diet Big K drink one evening, but that is beside the point.
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, you are definitely right. The difference is that with the blog, I can force myself to focus on it two or three times a week. It's the frequent posting that overwhelms me.
Mr Key - "Nearly all of our students use Facebook, and it seems to be a normal part of people's social interactions," Campbell said. "It just turns out that narcissists are using Facebook the same way they use their other relationships – for self promotion with an emphasis on quantity of over quality."
ReplyDeleteCraig - I hear you. For me, a witty (as deemed by me) comment will pop in my head, and I have learned my follow-through is better if I just post it in the moment to FB or Twitter. See also: I wrote every college paper at 4 am the night before it was due. Blogs feel like homework.
Every time I try to delete my facebook page, and I do sometimes sit there with my finger on the "confirm" button like Lindsay Lohan holding the syringe for one last fix, I realize that if I delete my profile and I ever hope to be invited to class reunion or find an old friends address, I'll be forced to ask someone else I know to look it up on facebook for me. And so I keep pulling back from the brink and then I get sucked into someone's family photos or someone's interesting link to some interesting story and blam, it's like I'm hooked or something. Oh well.
ReplyDelete