Wanna Fight With Me On Facebook?
How funny our communication is now that we are all on social networking sites!
Image Credit: SocialHappens.com
Just last week I posed a provoking question to my Facebook wall. I thought about what I often see in my news feed and I wanted to know why so many people post quotes from famous people.
So I asked.
And I got some responses.
My Facebook friends were very willing to share that doing such is all about inspiration.
But inspiration for who?
It’s a good thing that we all have a “Wall” where we share our thoughts. And if we resonate with each other’s updates, we comment- communicate- and connect.
CONNECT? (How does Mark Zuckerberg continue to justify communicating on a social networking site like Facebook is connecting? I say BS to that!)
However, it’s mega convenient to communicate in this manner so we do it. Plain and simple.
Yeah, but what about communicating in certain styles? Like criticizing something, someone, or (no- don’t do it!) “stirring the pot” (aka- being provocative?)
It seems that there’s this unwritten rule to be positive (even when you need to fake it) when communicating via social networks. I’ve read dozens of books on “How to do social networking” and I have yet to read any sentence that states “Share your true feelings.”
It’s a funny thing- how being PC has carried over to online communication.
Sure, I get it. Nobody wants to “connect” with a negative Neal or Nancy. Where’s the fun in that? But sharing your true feelings on your Facebook wall- geez, that’s almost worse than sharing your true feelings in person.
Frankly, I’m tired of everyone sharing on Facebook how wonderful and awesome everything is. I think they’re lying. (Or at least in a great amount of denial.)
Why wouldn’t anyone want to share what’s really going on with them?
Is it because we need to be PC? If that’s an accurate answer, lord help us because being PC in person- yeah right, how far does that really get us?
But one thing I learned from the Facebook communication thread last week is that there might be an excellent reason for being positive and inspiring. That one reason has a one word answer; and it starts with ASS.
Assumptions.
Now this may have to do with that communication thread alone- and it can be a million times different in other threads- but when people start commenting and communicating about things that they feel differently, they (almost inevitably) begin to assume things. Judgements are expressed. Un-politically correct words are exchanged. Heck, “friendships” are lost.
It has a strong potential to get ugly- fast.
So maybe that’s why the “Experts” who write “How to do Social Networking” books and articles tell us to stay positive. Heaven forbid that you actually lose a friend on Facebook. (Sarcasm)
I still disagree with the “Experts.” I think it’s more important and valuable to be yourself. If you have judgements, share them. If you want to complain about something, get if off your chest.
Not all your “friends” are going to like it, but know that I’m more than happy to fight with you- on Facebook and other social networking sites.
“Ding. ding”
Thank you, Reid! I am still smiling from reading this very insightful, and most importantly, true commentary. So glad you feel this way. I’ve felt it for a long time and was too afraid of offending anyone. Sometimes that just gets too exhausting. Bring on the real.
Yeah, I hear ya, Marian. It’s like “where do I get to be me?”
Brilliantly expressed, Reid! I’m going to post a link to this on my FB. Cheers to naming the unnamed. I’ve thought about that a lot myself, though your words seem to hone in on the point quite eloquently Well played!
Thanks for the compliment, Sara. We might need to be careful though. Facebook is pretty immature, in my opinion. I wouldn’t be surprised if they published a “hate” button some time soon.
Oh a “hate” button is coming soon I’m sure. Or at the very least, “dislike”.
This is good. I know this will help me personally in what I am doing. I’m going to share this with my friends.
it is because people seems to want to be “nice” to everyone. They forget to be their own selves..funny but you are 100% right about that..the not all friends will like it if you post something real, something you think is real…something that’s really happening on in their lives..well of course for privacy reason, you wouldn’t want to post the whole truth about it,,,but you ca at least post half the truth..or better not post at all if you are just going to lie…