How do you use Facebook? Is there a certain part of your life that you put online for people to see, and keep the rest private, or do you put it all out there? I ask because after using Facebook for the past 5 years, I feel like I have no idea how to use it.
- I don’t want to use it to give you a play by play on my life. If it were pertinent information to you, you would likely be involved.
- I don’t want to use it to talk about the weather. Look out your damn window.
- I don’t want to use it to tell you what I cooked for supper. People who do that usually annoy me.
- I don’t want to use it to say that I’m tired and ponder why I haven’t gone to bed. No one cares and I should go to bed.
- I don’t want to use it to tell you that I’m sick. I don’t need you picturing me with kleenex shoved up my nostrils. Oh great, now you’re doing just that.
- I don’t want to use it to tell you that my kids are sick. Then I look like a negligent mom for not pumping them full of every superfood and vitamin known to man. Or you’ll know I let them eat their boogers.
All silliness aside, I’m serious. I don’t know how to use Facebook effectively. None of this information is really helpful at the end of the day.
Anything that might be helpful and fuel constructive discussion, Facebook tends to not be the platform to share it on. If you post anything political, you get hearty cheers of agreement, or ridiculous argument. Nobody’s opinion sways due to what you said. If you post anything spiritual, you get choruses of ‘amen’s, or defensive arguments from people who don’t see things as you do. Does anyone walk away from reading something on Facebook and say to themselves, “Wow, I see things so differently now!” I’m guessing I’m not the only proud person in the world who would answer ‘no’.
So why don’t I just delete my account? I don’t know. Sometimes I consider it. Then the creeper in me gets curious and I need to stick my nose into what people are doing. Business they want me to get into, because they put it online for all their friends to see. I’m not sure I’m much closer to you if I know you made pot roast for supper though. Should I pare down my friends list? If I unfriend you will you still speak to me in real life? Oh wait, we probably never see each other anyway.
There really is helpful online community to be had. I find a lot of encouragement in interacting with church family on Facebook. It’s nice to easily connect with far-away family with a quick message or photo. It’s also helpful for connecting with local homeschoolers.
So what’s a girl to do?
I think FB can be whatever you want it to be. Some people use it as twitter, a play by play of every moment of their life. Some people it’s all political, some it’s spiritual. Other people never post their own stuff but post on others.
Personally, I only put a small portion of my life on FB. I also be sure to pare down my friends list…do I really want almost strangers knowing anything about me?
I agree with you that people close to me know what is going on anyway. So I think pictures and stuff, are more for close friends & family who don’t live nearby, to be able to keep in touch with them better. And if my nearby friends happen to see the posts/photos too, then they see them too.
I agree about the weather & whining about illness!
I also find it useful for posting questions when I need a quick answer.
Sorry I posted about my supper last night! Like I said, I personally like it when people post what they’re making because it gives me ideas for what to make. It’s useful. When people post at restaurants, it is most likely a place I’ll never go or a dish too hard for me to ever make, so I don’t really find that useful.
hmmmm, I love you. I love your blog, I have no use for facebook. that’s my two bits but you already knew this. I could go on and on about how much more freedom and time you will have, how much easier it will be to love people because you aren’t judging them for some stupid thing they posted to FB, and on and on and on. I’ll zip it now.
Post mostly with far off relatives in mind as I don’t have a phone plan to be in contact that way.
Don’t like don’t read I guess 🙂
Well Kim, I’m probably guilty of posting what I am making for dinner (especially if it’s AMAZING), but in general I know what you mean.
I use facebook to stay in touch with people I wouldn’t otherwise stay in touch with. I don’t understand what is so wrong about that. If it weren’t for facebook, I would never know what my old college buddies were up to. I like knowing they’re still out there, doing stuff. Why is it wrong to want to keep in touch with people who you wouldn’t be able to keep in touch with if it weren’t for social media? Not sure what the issue is.
I never put anything really personal on fb anymore. I try to update about my life, and I usually make some attempt at a witty status update (I know it often fails, but I try). I look at it as another form of creative writing. I like to twist the mundane events in my life into something that other people might find entertaining. So that’s how I use facebook…as a creative outlet.
I think you can use it however you like, or you can not use it if that suits you. It’s really up to you. I personally like your posts and enjoy getting reminded about your wonderful blog through facebook and twitter. Plus I don’t get to see my Saskatoon peeps that often anymore. It’s nice to know you’re still out there, doing stuff. 🙂