Understanding My Space on Facebook

Platform - A place, means, or opportunity for public expression of opinion.

Social media has changed the manner in which we receive a lot of our information. There was a time when personal thoughts were only shared between a few people, in person, via written correspondence or over the phone.  When a funny thought crossed your mind, you'd make a mental note to share that with your family the next time you all got together.  

But much like everything else in life, times have changed.  Social media has developed into a beast.  And when I say beast, I don't mean that in a negative way, I just mean that it's seriously had it's way with the way we communicate with each other.  That's not necessarily a bad thing.  There is no rule that says all interaction must remain stagnant in order to preserve the integrity of the content shared.  If that were the case, you'd probably be reading this on a cave wall or stone tablet.  ;-)

I personally prefer to communicate in written form.  This goes all the way back to my childhood.  Instead of talking to my mother in person, I would write a letter.  I had a diary of course, and I wrote notes to my friends in school.  I was taught (read forced) to send written thank you notes, when I received birthday gifts.  Even after a 2 week stint vacation at my grandmothers in Philly every year, I would leave a nice hand written note for my grandmother prior to our departure.  I'd sneak it on her bed right before we jumped in the car to head back home. It's just my preference.   My brother on the other hand preferred verbal communication.  I think he talked (talks) on the phone to friends more than any other guy I've seen before.  But again, that's just his preference.  Neither is good or bad.  

Now we have before us, an altered way of getting our messages across to those we want to.  But instead of a few people to share our messages with, we have an entire audience made up of a few hundred people at minimum.  

I'm generally a quiet person.  I like to observe people.  I'm cautious with what I say to people in person, because while quiet, I also have a very dry sense of humor.  I'm very sarcastic, and not everyone can handle that. It's hard to translate sarcasm over the internet without sounding like a douche bag.  I've learned the hard way, and now try to throw "lol" and smiley faces all over a sarcastic comment so they know I'm not trying to be rude.  But that's draining.  So, for the most part, I've limited commenting on social media sites to those that genuinely know me.  If I friended anyone from church, they'd be trying to drown me in holy water and blessed oil at this point.)

But everyone doesn't have that type of filter.

And this is why I don't have all that many friends and family on most of the social media sites I (am registered on.  Everyone doesn't know me.  Just because I passed you in the hallway 12 years ago, and we exchange our fondness over the new hairstyle some celebrity is now donning, doesn't mean we need to be FB friends.   You see my take is, I liken this all to school.  Particularly the cafeteria.   In my experience, you sat with your group of friends during lunch.  Those are the ones that you had the most communication with.  It's not that you didn't like those that sat at other tables, it's just you didn't have the same bond.  The same likes/dislikes.  They were just your peers.  

You didn't stand in the front of the cafeteria sharing your dirt, jokes, or insecurities.  What would be the point of that?  Fast track to the present, and you've friended these same people that sat at the other tables, and now are sharing everything with them.  On top of all that, you have now found your self annoyed, frustrated or confused by these same people's posts.  

Why?  There are people that will always say what they want to say, regardless of the platform they are given to say it.  Whether it be at the beauty salon among 6 or 7 other individuals, or whether it's online for the world to see.  For the most part,  these people are just being them.  They have no desire to filter what they type, and could care less who sees what they post.  That's absolutely OK.  I have no desire to "friend" people that are reckless with their postings.  It's not that I think they are bad people, it's just not the type of vibe I want dancing up and down my timeline. I can take but so many selfies, long a** hashtags, and "Like if you love Jesus" posts before I have to kick a person to the curb.  It's not personal.

I vowed years ago not to let other people's behavior dictate my reaction.  I always thought these social media platforms were meant for fun, and they continue to be for me.  I am a part of a few FB, GOOGLE+, & twitter groups that allow me to discuss more serious or subject focused topics.  In my school analogy, I think those would be considered extracurricular activities! LOL!!

What are your thoughts about the company you keep on social media websites?

Please view this video, it's HILARIOUS!!

Social Media Ruined My Marriage

Me: I'm sooo sorry. I just...I don't know what happened.

Him:  Geez.  I was really looking forward to that too.

Me:  I mean, one minute it was fine, and then poof!! I don't know.  I'll call someone to fix this mess.

Him: Ok.... make sure you get ranch this time please.

Me:  *hangs head in shame* Will do.  

Ok, well maybe I was being a bit extra with the title of the blog, but my hunny dip is going to start looking outside my house to quench his thirst.  Literally.  See what the issue is yall, is that over the last few days I have burnt many a meal because I left the food to watch TV, check FB, or play candy crush.  As I type this now, I am racking my brain trying to figure out how I am going to replace the burnt sausage links that are now at the bottom of my trash can.  

The other day, I burnt a pot of string beans.  HOW THE FREAK DO YOU BURN STRING BEANS!?!?!?!?  I set the pot on the stove in the morning, and promised that I would turn them down and cover them before I left for church, but in the midst of being preoccupied with getting out the house on time, and checking my cell for missed messages, I did't turn it down.  We came home to a smokey house, and praise God that it wasn't more serious.  The house still smells a bit smokey.  Later that same day, I decided to put hotdogs on the grill.  I walked away to come in to the house, got on my laptop, and forgot.  I ran outside to find the grill spewing huge smoke clouds from the side.  Suffice to say, those had to be thrown away too, and then I had to run to the store to buy some more.  

Last night I burnt chicken wings I was making to watch Monday Night Football.  *sigh* .  I can't take too many more of my families side eye, as I try to explain that we are feasting on Cajun delicacies.  I just wish there was something that you could set the time to cook your meal and it would buzz when it was done.  You know, so you wouldn't forget it.  Sort of like an alarm clock, but for your food.  I don't know, with the current technological advances, my wish seems light years away.  I hope my grand-kids are around to see when this, i'll call it "oven timer", is created.  

note to self, look into copyrighting my idea of said "oven timer"

Well, I'm off to figure out what my family is going to eat for breakfast.

Have a great day!!

~EITB