Oh, facebook.You inspire such love and loathing in me. One minute I can't bear the sight of you, and the next I'm logging on so I can be sure not to miss some important tidbit of information. What is this mighty weapon of influence you wield over me?
I've deactivated you once or twice before, always temporarily, mainly because I needed to get on top of my emails or curb minor distractions from my life for a season. I've always come back to you. But lately the dissatisfaction just can't be assuaged. You annoy me, facebook, and I think it's time for a separation.
Facebook, it's not you, it's me. Okay, it's partly you -- especially lately, with your weird new layout and cluttered way of showing me information. We're supposed to talk to each other before we have makeovers. I don't like what you've become.
But yes it's me, too.
It takes two to tango, and though I could blame you for making me crave information, for making me desperate not to miss out on things, I'm really the one at fault. It's my problem if I have to know what's going on in the lives of acquaintances I haven't spoken to since primary school. It's my problem if the green-eyed monster emerges when I see that friends whom I've been trying unsuccessfully to pin down for a coffee date have caught up with other friends three times in the past fortnight. It's my problem if I share things and judge their coolness or intelligence based on whether others 'like' them. It's my problem if I'm scared that I'm going to miss out on something.
So I'm calling for a time-out, facebook. I understand I'll be out of the loop. I understand I won't get invited to things. I understand people won't notice I'm gone because -- well, that's your nature. It's what we see in you that keeps us interested, facebook, not what we don't see.
But that's okay. I'll handle it. And -- for now, at least -- I'm going to kick it old-school, you know, emails, texts, all that jazz.
Facebook, we're kind of over (even if only temporarily). Don't call me.
Oh, and here: have a butterfly. He was hanging out with me today.
Sincerely,
Danielle
* * * * *
Conversations:
Laura Elizabeth -- Whoa! Your weekend sounds insanely busy! Four emergencies? Yikes! I'm glad you came out the other end unscathed. The DW episode was The God Complex; I might watch the last ten minutes on iView so I can at least see how it ended! (I liked the dollhouse episode even though it was kinda creepy for a while there, too).
Carla -- haha, good spotting, eagle eyes! That's my favourite box design from there, too :).
Ruth -- please please steal this idea! I'd love it if you did. And I stole it from somewhere myself, though of course I can't remember where. Imma email you back! I'm sorry your kidlets had sniffles :(.
Like
ReplyDeleteOh no! :(
ReplyDeleteWow!
But I like it. :)
I feel like writing you a snail mail ode of joy. Be strong! ...and be delighted by the many who will continue to love you, even without fb :)
ReplyDeleteIt's my problem if I have to know what's going on in the lives of acquaintances I haven't spoken to since primary school. It's my problem if the green-eyed monster emerges when I see that friends whom I've been trying unsuccessfully to pin down for a coffee date have caught up with other friends three times in the past fortnight. It's my problem if I share things and judge their coolness or intelligence based on whether others 'like' them. It's my problem if I'm scared that I'm going to miss out on something.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great paragraph to explain some of the problem areas with such a network!
You make me feel glad I'm not on FB. :) Thank you. Yes, people sometimes guilt you, but mostly they deal.
Good on you! Joel and I have been discussing doing this for several weeks now. So likely we'll be joining you among the ranks of deactivators soon. :)
ReplyDeleteHooray for Danielle! Now you can join the anti-facebook club. :)
ReplyDeletexx
Katie (of Katiefoolery fame) and I both took a week of FB and it was pretty darn awesome and insightful for me. I think I could quite happily take it away but there;s a small part of me that goes "no... you might miss out on something". So I don't know if I could.
ReplyDeleteOh this sentence right here... "It's my problem if the green-eyed monster emerges when I see that friends whom I've been trying unsuccessfully to pin down for a coffee date have caught up with other friends three times in the past fortnight." Ouch. I totally, totally understand. That's probably the worst thing about FB for me.
Speaking of coffee dates, my school schedule is slowly clearing up (I hope and pray), we must meet up again soon!!!
See Laura, *that* is why you proof read your comments before you press 'publish'. I wrote that I took a week 'OF' Facebook, instead of a week 'OFF'. I know you know what I mean, but I also know that you know how upsetting it is to have poorly written comments floating around the internet under your name. Um... not that you do that, just that I'm sure you could understand what it feels like.
ReplyDeleteJust had to clear that up. I am literate. Promise!!
Well, I certainly don't blame you! I'm not on FB personally but my mom/family has one that I sometimes use or esp to look at pictures.
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely keen on the new layout thing but Gretchen had a great post that explained it all and then I showed my Mom how to do a few things and it's nice for more privacy if nothing else...
http://littlepinkhouse.net/2011/09/understanding-the-new-facebook/
Enjoy your break!
You are missed! (though, I can see why you are doing away with it for now)
ReplyDeleteThis friend will definitely still invite you to everything she can, go out for coffee with you (if only she could) and she'll definitely stil text, email, and write letters to you!!!
ReplyDeleteMuch love to you!
Such a gorgeous photo! Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am so tempted to do precisely the same as you with regards to Facebook. When I came back from my week away from social media, I actually felt better about facebook than twitter. It felt like I was communicating in more depth on facebook than twitter - things are so easily lost in the constant flow of twittering.
Now, it seems as though facebook really is trying to do my thinking for me and I don't like it all. I'm quite capable of deciding which statuses I'd like to see or which photos I want to look at. I don't want facebook hiding things from me because of some supposed logarithm of connections that they've created. Sometimes I'll actually talk to a person via other means about something they've said or an image they've posted and now facebook's trying to punish me for that by deciding I don't want to see their posts because I haven't interacted via facebook. Uh, no.
Add to all of that the fact that I can barely use the iPhone app any more because a) it keeps asking to use my location every five mintues, and, b) I can no longer use my lists to cut through information I'm not interested in. Once again, it's punishing me for thinking on my own!
Ack, long rant is long - sorry!
I don't think I'll cut facebook off entirely at this stage, but I'll probably return minimising my use of it severely. It's all so frustrating and makes me wish I could get my blog back up and running NOW.
Wow, 12 whole comments... At least you'll be 'in' with me!
ReplyDeleteOh the whole I find butterflies SO much better to hang out with than facebook. There are days when I do miss the mass of information - but at the same time I always felt a little funny lurking about that social network . . . like someone had forgotten to close a backdoor and I had wandered in without invitation. Hmmm . . .
ReplyDeleteAnd I know this is a bit late - but I loved your through the day photos. :) Are you enjoying the "joy" devotional? I've looked at it a couple times but have never picked it up.
Hugs honey!
Cara
I really like this post and I definitely agree with what you're saying. I've been thinking a lot about the whole social media thing especially since the new look facebook...haven't come to any major conclusions, but your post definitely provides more food for thought.
ReplyDelete