Actually, I found it really annoying.
Which is why I dropped it. I got tired of all the friend requests and the writing on the wall crap. As it is, I have a hard time replying to comments on my blog - in addition to monitoring them, as well as answering emails promptly. I spend far too much time online as it is, and for what? Trivial pursuit. Today I spent about 15 minutes apologizing to people because I forgot to add emoticons or "LOL's" to my jokey emails, until I decided I was wasting my time. There comes a point when one simply can't take the blame because someone I hardly know got their feelings hurt. Oops! I did it again. Was it something I said Ms. Spears?
So anyway - Facebook makes people sad. Too bad. The so-called study claims it is due - in part - to the fact people feel bad that their lives aren't as happy and fun as those Facebook BFF's who post happy photos and good times:
Facebook photos generally depict smiling, cheerful people having good times, conveying a sense of happiness. Of course everyone likes to smile for the camera, so that good cheer may be inflated or false. As others view the photos, they may believe this conveyed sense of intense happiness is real, making them think that their friends are much happier than they are.These same people were probably raised in front of a TV set and bombarded with television shows full of deliriously happy people, not to mention all of those ads full of people peeing their pants over some product that is supposed to make them happy and fulfilled if they buy it/use it. We are numskulls, aren't we.
Yep. But do you know what is really going on here? At least what I think is going on in most cases? I'm thinking it is related to the Commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" as well as the Tenth Commandment which narrows it down - You shall not covet . . .
2540 Envy represents a form of sadness and therefore a refusal of charity; the baptized person should struggle against it by exercising good will. Envy often comes from pride; the baptized person should train himself to live in humility:
- Would you like to see God glorified by you? Then rejoice in your brother's progress and you will immediately give glory to God. Because his servant could conquer envy by rejoicing in the merits of others, God will be praised.329 - CCC
DISCLAIMER: I may be wrong of course. I'm often wrong. I make mistakes in judgment. I'm an envious, jealous person, and you all make me really sad. Kidding! LOL! ;) That's not true. What? Well I did mean it when I said I might be wrong - but the rest is just a joke.
Art: The deliriously happy housewife.
Thanking God for stainless steel.
ReplyDeleteAnd see how much her husband loves her - he is really happy because she is really happy. Her happiness does not make him sad. I'm happier for posting the picture too!
ReplyDeleteI believe you missed a ";-)" and I find this quite upsetting.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a facebook account. Sometimes I wonder if I'm missing out, but then I read posts like this and I'm thankful no one knows my business. I'm sure I'd be a source of scandal! :)
ReplyDeleteI was talking with one of my catechism students last night at class - she was complaining that one of her classmates wouldn't "friend" her on FB - and I asked why that was making her upset. She said she just thought it was rude. Then I asked her how many FB friends she had, and she said "over 500".
ReplyDeleteGranted, she's only 13 so there's still a certain level of immaturity that has to be taken into account. But I get the sense that some people collect "friends" like they do Precious Moments statues or tea cups. They aren't happy with the ones they already have - they're upset over the ones they don't have.
And I bet some people who blog feel the same way over over bloggers who won't add them to their blogroll.
Love this post! :)
ReplyDeleteDoughboy: "I wonder if I'm missing out"
ReplyDeletewell, I don't know. I agree with Terry that it takes up a lot of my time. Far too much time if I'm honest about it that could/should be spent in more constructive and edifying ways. That said it's a lot easier to keep in touch with people who matter to you. I did take a 6 month or so "break" from Facebook. Like all things you have to be discerning about it.
She does appear to be a very happy housewife! Wouldn't you be if you had a stainless steel cookware set and percolator like that? and my gosh do I spy an electric frying pan? the gears are turning in her head as to whether she'll make scrambled eggs or french toast or maybe both!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the obsession with FB and Twitter. I have to admit that for someone like me, who in real life is a bit of an anti-social hermit, I find things like FB a good way to keep in touch with people without really keeping in touch with them, if you know what I mean. Besides, I have only slightly more FB friends than I have followers on my blog. Any lower and I might set a record for both venues!
ReplyDelete"Fryin' pan, fryin' pan in my han' --
ReplyDeleteWhat'll I cook to keep my man?"
"I'm laughing because I'm so loaded I just tried to change the channel on the china cabinet!"
I miss Friendster.
ReplyDeleterosary please.ros.
ReplyDeleteI am not on FB or Twitter. I am always amazed at how much of their private lives people actually indulge on social networking sites.
ReplyDeleteToo much information!
Blessings and prayers,
Ann.
Just to be balanced and fair as I know our Dear Mr.Button would have it, plenty of people use effbook and other social networks for networking that does not involve silly amount of personal disclosure or an inordinate waste of time.
ReplyDeleteI hardly use FB at all except to scandalously promote my own blog posts and to follow along with those whom I want to read.
I do this because like Twitter (which I really, really don't get) other people whom I would like to have know I have posted, use these networks, some use one and not another etc. So the best way to reach people is the way in which they choose to be reached.
That said, pass the sour dills please and let the SN crank resume. ;-)
Talk about envy! I want that percolator!
ReplyDeletePeople barely email me anymore - they all use Facebook messages. I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook, but if I got off, I think people wouldn't bother contacting me - couldn't be bothered to use email. It's that prevalent now.
ReplyDeleteI cut waaaay back on my Facebook usage about 15 months ago. It was a very good thing. But when I did, I made sure that I only kept friends who were indeed friends or who there was a very compelling reason to have a connection with. All of a sudden, Facebook became about 75% less problematic. I cut my friend list in half. It was awesome.
Shadow - I haven't stopped - I continue to pray.
ReplyDeleteFr. Frank - now that is funny!
ReplyDeleteShe's probably deliriously happy because there's no kids in the picture....
ReplyDeleteThank you Terry.
ReplyDeleteI've been facebook free for many years now. I went back on for a few weeks in the summer when I moved, but I just couldn't do it.
ReplyDeleteEven tv bores me now, so I just read and look at this site from time to time.
Peace
I've seen FB damage too many relationships not to mistrust it. I keep my account to post articles that might wake some people up. But it probably won't happen b/c FB is essentially narcissistic. One of my daughters, who does have a FB account, says a little facetiously that it's "from the devil." And she may be right. Just look at all the lewd and suggestive photos young girls post of themselves in massive numbers. It is definitely the technology for a selfish generation.
ReplyDeleteCirca January 2012, "People barely email me anymore - they all use Facebook messages." Circa 2002, "People barely call me anymore - they all use email."
ReplyDelete"FB is essentially narcissistic." But personal blogs in general and a blog post on the wanton waste of FB and our vital comments on same aren't? Heh, heh, down girl, just having fun.
"...lewd and suggestive photos young girls post of themselves in massive numbers [on FB]" Golly, I must be using the wrong FB.
"Even tv bores me..." Haven't had one in decades myself. However, I have an eReader and love it so that'll no doubt add years to any purgatorial stop over.
"It is definitely the technology for a selfish generation." Well, not to visit the telephone again but you should have heard what my cranky old Methodist Gran had to say about that contraption back when I was 13.
Well, it's been fun...
P.S. The Word Verification and I am not making this up is, wait for it, "wayholy"
Al Gore invented the internet so it must be evil.
ReplyDeleteI only look at Facebook when I see a message from a relative or close friend. I've been ignoring all the rest. Similarly with requests for "likes."
ReplyDeleteNow I have to figure out how to "unfriend" people.
The goal of each person's life should be holiness. If you are not striving for that you are not doing God's Will for He desires each person to become perfect as He Himself is. Avoiding the corrupting influence of bad television shows and other social media is one way to improve our prayer life and keep our eyes and souls free from sin.
ReplyDeleteIn that way we can move from strength to strength, virtue to virtue, grace to grace on the way of holiness-- becoming the man or woman God wants us to be.
Peace
Jim. Seek justice. Love Mercy.
ReplyDeleteWhat Shadowlands said.
ReplyDelete