June 14, 2016
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Pulling Back
I haven't been very active on social media lately. I still scroll through Facebook and read my friends' and family's posts, but I rarely post anything there. I can't help feeling that social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter, are part of the problem that led to Orlando... San Bernardino... Paris... Brussels... and all the other terrorist and would-be terrorist attacks around the world. It's just too easy for disturbed hatemongers to have their twisted ideologies affirmed and encouraged by other disturbed hatemongers. What began as a way to bring people together has evolved to a divisive virtual battleground.
That's not the only thing pushing me away from Facebook. I'm sick of the stupid memes (even the rare ones that have no spelling or grammatical errors) that have taken the place of thoughtful discourse. I'm sick of it being a forum for the public shaming of children and less than perfect adults. I'm sick of the click-bait. I'm sick of the uninformed, inaccurate crap that goes viral. I'm tired of being manipulated. I thought Facebook would be a way to keep up with my far-flung family and friends, but I rarely see their posts (if they ever even post anything personal) because of all the ads, suggested content, memes, shared videos and articles and other crap I have to wade through to even find my family and friends. I am once again seriously considering leaving Facebook. Sadly, I know it will be the end of communication with most of my loved ones, as few people seem to be willing to make an effort to keep in touch by old-fashioned means anymore.
Yes, I'm cranky today. I'm on Day 4 of no hot water and at the end of this day I will be more than a thousand dollars poorer (but will hopefully have hot water). For 35 years, my husband has taken care of all the plumbing problems in our various homes and the second he goes off to do contract work everything goes to hell. After four months of unemployment, he's finally making money and it's being funneled directly to plumbers. How's that for irony?
Comments (13)
sounds like a no-good, horrible, very bad day ~
Oh, dear, saintvi! I'm sorry to hear about your plumbing problems! Today I have a man coming to replace the belt on my garage door -- certainly less disastrous than no hot water, but equally annoying to have to deal with it! I am pulling away from my habit of listening to tv for company -- I'm tired of the talking heads and the angry political diatribes and the incomplete analyses! I'm not on FB, so that's not a distraction for me. Goodness -- no tv, no FB -- what is the world coming to -- lol ?! Take a nice warm shower when you can, and the world will look much better!
It's the Fickle Finger of Fate!
I feel your pain about the no hot water. I had that issue in the not to distant past, but if we look for the bright side, at least it's not during one of your sub-zero temp winters!
Gah! I am with you on the opinion of FB. I still like xanga - even the pared down and depopulated version. There are enough people with common sense and decorum that even the political posts are more "refined". The only funny meme of late was a photo of a cactus garden growing on a dashboard... made me snort giggle - it was a rough day.
@fwren: You said the right thing and made me chuckle, bless you.
I am sorry that you have had less than active family members in FB, because that's what makes it worth the day for me. I have a list of only family and close friends, and that's what I look at first, so I don't miss when they post something. Sometimes one or more of them gets more active than usual, and I WILL miss something someone else posted; but not like I did when I only looked at my newsfeed.
I wish you a nice restful hot bath, and gentle words of encouragement. Crystalinne is right, it could have been worse. I'm truly sorry that your husband couldn't be there for you during this incident, because I know he's just as frustrated that he's not there are you are.
Huggerz.
I sure do miss you...xanga wouldn't let me re-up when my subscription expired. You know, I've heard cold showers are exhilarating...ilym
Yes, I'm not sure what's happened with Facebook; everyone is trying to convince each other and no one is trying to discuss anymore.
I am so with you on hating FB. I much preferred Xanga but they didn't prefer me so now I have to hang with the trailer trash....
Ugh. I hope you get to feeling better after the hot water is on. I had an irritable day Sunday. I know how those feel and I also get tired of endless information. I do enjoy connecting with those I used to know in a better way on Facebook. Where are you on there? I might come find you.
i was reading your post and nodding my head and then this memory from a week ago popped into my head.
My nephew telling my sister that his brother had joined ISIS. He was joking. But his mother didn't see the joke.
The thing is there is no ISIS. Its a fabrication. The real truth is that there are just few people who choose what is to be featured, Front of the news. what gets front page news.. what trends.. and these people are media, stocks & pharmacuticle people
Facebook is just a livefeed. Its the news companies who add and twist. Without global anxiety you wouldn't have a requirement for anti depressants.
The propaganda merchants should have been on trial at Nuremberg after WWII -
Politicians act like children, because to be in politics is to seek power. But real power is not bestowed. It rumbles underfoot.
Take the politics out of the news.
Disestablishmentarianism
and all politicians should show example by getting along with each other.
sometimes we can blame the thing that shows us a mirror of ourselves. Reality is biting for everyone. Not a stone should be thrown.
You have to be ruthless in weeding your facebook listing anymore. I go to the news feed preferences and tell them which people I want to see most of, then I unfollow(but remain friends with) any that are prone to filling the page up with political or "sensational" or whatever posts. Sometimes the people we most want to hear from just don't post much.... hmmm I wonder why? Missing your cheerful letters. Hope you're feeling better and your water is back to bi-polar status soon.
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