Ok, I admit it. I’m kind of addicted to it. But I’m much better than I used to be. And at least now I only log on a few times a day, and anymore, I often find it boring.
Either you’re social or you’re not social. For someone who has worked from home for the last several years, Facebook has become my water cooler. Being home alone for several hours a day can be isolating, especially for someone who thrives on being around other people. And since there were other people across the state who did the same job, Facebook kept me connected to what was going on. Good excuse, right?
Yes, I can see why it would be intimidating for some people. Not everyone is cut out for “The Social Network”. But I’ve developed a few easy rules to follow, so posting isn’t so daunting. Look at it like its one big party with your 400+ closest friends. Okay, maybe not your closest friends, but people that you have encountered throughout your lifetime. Life is about building relationships.
Rule #1: Never post anything you wouldn’t share at a party
That would be a party attended by your pastor, your ex-boss that you may need to use as a reference some day; the cute guy you had a huge crush on in high school; your sorority sisters, who of course have blackmail photos and are not afraid to use them; the woman who cleans your house; the neighborhood moms, who you want your kids to have future play dates with; and your family members who will report back to your own mother. People do read your posts and look at your photos. If it’s not appropriate to say in front of these people, don’t post it.
Rule #2: Don’t post your dirty laundry
Is it truly how you want to represent yourself at the party? Keep your dirty laundry to yourself. It’s tacky! Always use the Thumper Rule: If you can’t say something nice, keep your mouth shut.
Rule #3: The five minute rule—Think it through before you post
Don’t be impulsive. Give yourself at least five minutes to think about what you want to say. Proof read it out loud. Then when you’re ready, press share. And don’t take it personally if no one comments or gives you a thumbs up. If you like what you said, don’t worry about it. If it bothers you for more than five minutes after you post, then just go back on and delete. Easy.
Rule #4: Don’t post dumb stuff
No one cares. Enough said.
Rule #5: Don’t accept every friend request you get and don’t be afraid to unfriend.
If you don’t know the person, they shouldn’t be in your network. If someone posts something that is offensive to me, I will simply unfriend them. I often unfriend people who post godless, liberal, urban elitist rants. I will do this without hesitation. There are a lot of people who like to express hate toward a recent former president whom I adore. Unfriend! This is “my” social network that I’ve created. You don’t belong on my network if you are offensive. I have tough skin and I have an open mind, but the last thing I want to waste my time on is reading your idiotic, offensive views. I do have exceptions and I will simply remove them from my newsfeed. I have one exception that I have hesitantly left on my feed, it reminds me to pray for that person. And Lord knows he needs prayers. Unfortunately there are others who I have no mercy upon. Wacky McSmackey with the offensive comment?… Unfriend!
Facebook shouldn’t be intimidating. With five hundred million people on Facebook, whether we like it or not, social networking is here to stay. So make it work for you. Make wise choices and design your social network so that you enjoy it. Or simply forget about it and become a blogger.
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