Why I'm Not a Facebook Fan

My girlfriends religiously post on FB. Pictures, status updates, thoughts on politics, religion, restaurants, bands, movies…the list goes on.  And they post all times of the day and night.  I know at any given moment in time what Josie in Texas had for breakfast, what movie Trina in California saw last night, how Shawna in Colorado is about the jump over the cliff if school doesn’t start, like tomorrow.  While some may think this is a great and easy way to keep up with friends, I think of it as more of a way to avoid actual communication and talking, I mean really talking one-on-one, with those that we know. 

Facebook only paints the picture we want painted.  It may or may not be real but it is what we want others to think of us.  How many “friends” do you know that have what seems to be a near perfect life?  Their dear husband always does and says such cute things, their kids are adorable and such a delight to be around, even the most mundane snack – crackers and hot chocolate – can be turned into a gastronomical delight – in Facebook language.  It’s not real folks! 

For some reason it seems being braggadocios is the new norm.  In the old days we called this conceited.  As we get older we can call this narcissistic.  Meaning – it’s all about me!  Now, we know these last few years have been turbulent both socially and financially.  Social networking allows people to live the life they wished they were living.  Somehow make it look better than it really is.  While a little bit of living grand can be fun and actually mood boosting, too much of it creates a false sense of reality.  It becomes harder to live in the “real world” where life can actually be hard sometimes.  The husband is not always nice and the kids sometimes make bad grades and lose soccer games – because they really did play poorly.  Sometimes beans are just that – beans.  Not a filet mignon in disguise.  Just beans.

My solution to this?  Get the phone out and try calling a friend.  Talk to them out loud – where they can hear you.  Better yet, meet for coffee or go to the park or meet at each other’s house for an hour.  Simply reconnect with people and let them get to know the real you.  Get to know the real them.  You may be surprised at how much you like the “real” person and even more surprised to find out that they may actually like you, even the “real” you.