I was once accused of being a social butterfly. Seriously, my friend said it in a mean voice—Oh, you’re always the social butterfly, aren’t you—so I knew she didn’t consider it a good thing in that moment. But it’s true, I really like people and I like knowing lots of people and I want to know those lots of people really well. Clearly, this is an impossibility. But I think Facebook was made for people like me.
While I luxuriate in knowing facts about my friends and my acquaintances and my old high school classmates and the wives of my husband’s old high school classmates (see how ridiculous this is?), it’s just too much. Too much knowing. Too much potential for gossip and slander and idiocy and hurt feelings and jealousy. Too much life crammed into this online social platform. Too much time given to the brainchild of whiz kid Mark Zuckerberg.
It’s not only Facebook that sucks my time and energies. Email is just as bad for me. I’m obsessive about checking both web pages to see if anyone is communicating with me. What is it with the constant connection? Why do I crave it? Why is it hard to let it go? There is definitely an element of addiction here that I want to be free from for a time. I want to use my computer to edit photos, write worthwhile blog posts and articles, and keep contact with beloved friends and family. And then I want to close the lid of my laptop and put it away. I want to live fully and richly, away from all things world wide web when I’m in the real wide world.
Facebook is a great resource. I’m sure I’ll be back on it in due time. I love making stronger connections via Facebook and I consider it a huge blessing when it comes to marketing myself as a photographer.
But for now, goodbye. Adios to short statuses that crush my creative spirit. Au revoir to images of gatherings that I’m not invited to which make me envious of other friends. I’m off to enjoy my summer.
8 Comments
Rebecca Jun 29, 2011 2:58 PM
Hm. I wonder who will actually read this post when I don’t link it on FB. Interesting dilemma, eh?
Kerri Jun 29, 2011 5:40 PM
I will. Thank goodness for Google Feed Reader. :)
It’s good when we can recognize our ‘addictions’ (I only put this in quotes because some people might take issue with FB being called an addiction. Anyway….) and how they are possibly sucking away time and energy from other worthwhile pursuits.
I will miss you “liking” my own pithy comments, however. :P
tasha Jun 29, 2011 6:00 PM
woot for you for going back to ancient times where there is no facebook!!
andy Jun 29, 2011 7:52 PM
Am reading (and even blogging myself!).
I hear ya on all of that. I think many of the same things about my perpetual rounds to the NYTimes, the local paper, and ESPN. Email is much the same. I want to give my time to something that I value more than reading what the NYTimes staff thinks is the next interesting trend in ______.
I’ve been thinking a good bit about joining up with Facebook, especially with moving to a new place. It may be a good way to connect with people but, for now, I’m willing to forgo the people that would only connect with me via facebook. I’m looking for depth, not status updates meant for mass consumption (says the grumpy luddite :-).
Charliegirl Jun 29, 2011 9:30 PM
way to go girlie. you’re on my google reader so you won’t loose me without facebook linking. ;-)
happygirl Jun 30, 2011 5:07 AM
I hardly go on my personal fb page anymore. I mostly use my happy girl page for my blog and business. :) yes, fb can be the devil.
Aubrey Jun 30, 2011 8:01 PM
I am definitely with you on the obsessive facebook and email checking. The bad thing is that now I have a smart phone and so can really check both all the time and nearly instantaneously. It’s just always there. Thankfully, my phone has been on the fritz a little lately and so it makes it harder. It’s nice to get away sometimes.
Rebecca Jul 3, 2011 2:15 PM
So it turns out I need Facebook for my freelance work. I also need more self-control. I’m thinking I’ll go on FB when my kiddo is in bed—sounds like a decent boundary, right?
Aubrey, I think I need a stupid phone. For some reason I can’t access my Gmail account on my phone, for which I’m kind of grateful. It’s FB that was killing me! Self control, self control, self control. Easier said than done.