I deactivated my Facebook page last week. I did it because I stupidly clicked on something a friend sent that was bogus, which hijacked my friends list and sent the same stupid message out.I was embarrassed by my stupidity (get my drift? I felt stupid because I know better) and in an attempt to stop it from going further, I deactivation my account. I don't even know if it stopped it but I felt I had to remove myself anyway.
I know with a few clicks I can reactivate the account. When I took that step I figured I would go back eventually but the longer I go 'deactivated' the better I like it.
I know Facebook is a time sucker, (Pam's phrase and so appropriate) but I didn't realize how much of a time sucker it was for me. Let me not be too dramatic but I feel a bit of freedom.
For the record I did create a Twitter account but have never used it. I don't think anyone cares if I'm having coffee, a sandwich or in the bathroom. And I can't compete with Ashton Kutcher's followers so what's the point?
Honestly there are some good ways to use Facebook. It has gotten me back in touch with several friends from high school and even a couple from childhood. That's pretty neat but after "Hi, how are you?" there's not much else to say, at least on Facebook. If we were face to face there might be more but I have lived without these people for nearly 40 years (oh gawd, did I write that??) so what's the big draw now? I don't even go to high school reunions.
Let me think about some of the positives about Facebook:
- It reminds me of birthdays. That's nice but I can remember the most important ones on my own.
- I did learn that Paul's cousin was in the hospital. That was a big one, although I assume they would have called before long.
- It's let me offer words of comfort and concern to people. I can do that with a card or a phone call.
- It has given me an opportunity to see some photos that I wouldn't otherwise. That's a loss, but I'll survive.
- It gave me a chance to share some of my blog posts. I didn't do it regularly so no great loss.
Some people in my business stress the importance of social networking and recommend having a Facebook page. So I guess I'm losing that connection with some of my younger clients but I'll risk that. So there are some positives but nothing life altering.
But the one really important positive of NOT having a Facebook page is that it frees up some time and creativity (that may be a stretch) to spend writing and keeping up with some of the blogs I have neglected. Far more valuable ways to spend my time.
Just now when I ran spell check on this post, the word Facebook came up as a misspelled word. That tells me something right there.
10 comments:
I'm not on Facebook, one of the reasons being it's "a time sucker" as you put it.
At first, I thought FB is a tool to keep in touch with friends and close friends. And then I learnt that everyone could be accepted as a friend and that FB is, among other things, a kind of Dating Service.
A blogger wrote in one of her posts that she had found a boyfriend on FB, and that after a while he dumped her for another woman on his FB. It served her right, I thought to myself. No woman should be that masochistic to date a guy with some 200 female friends on his FB.
Glad to know this. I'm using it a little less these days but still am a user.
Exact reasons of why I am a die hard NON-Facebooker....and loving being that way!!
Good for you! I've always resisted being too "connected". I think we all spend too much time on the computer and too little time living our lives. Facebook, twitter and dare I say it -even blogging- are huge "time suckers" and it's important to find balance. For all the reasons you mentioned, FB is definitely of fairly low on the scale of things that add value to our lives.
Call me addicted...to fb, blogging and reading. My favorite? On fb with writers and bloggers, talking about books.
Call me crazy,you won't be the first!
I signed up for Facebook and Twitter before I was actually blogging. I seldom do Twitter unless I'm entering a giveaway.
I just don't see the point of it.
I only go to Facebbook to see what's going on with my nieces in Florida. I did meet up with some friends from the past but most of my time is spent here!
If I wanted to keep in touch with friends from the past I would have done so without FB. I don't go to reunions either and have heard of people connecting who are now married and shouldn't. I agree, it is a time sucker and now with a blog, my photography (new camera I actually have to take classes to learn to use), a Kindle, and cell phone - I feel way to connected. Something has to go and I have a feeling it's going to be FB. The best thing is sharing pictures, but like you, I guess I can live without that if I have to. It's hysterical that Facebook came up as spelled wrong on spell check!
Everything you've written is so true. For good and bad. I deactivated my account once, for about 2 days. bahahaha.
(I have thought the same thing about spell check not recognizing facebook).
Good for you! My family and I have never had a Facebook account. Sure, it has some good things about it, but we have always felt there is a always a greater chance of negative things coming into play from it. (Our teenage daughter is doing just fine without it, and is likely far better off.) All this hi-tech social networking stuff isn't helping anything. It's robbing us of face-to-face interaction with other human beings. Everything is so impersonal these days. We need to connect on a very real level. I applaud your decision. Best wishes!
I confess I wouldn't be on FB if I didn't have to spend probably two hours of my work day on that and Twitter all the time as a social media coordinator for our TV station.
That said, I don't fuss too much with my stuff... well I am right now, but basically, my blog post, Happy birthday, and that's about it. I have no time for more!
Post a Comment