I am endlessly fascinated by what people decide to post on Facebook, and even more enthralled why. One woman reports about her plane being delayed out of Chicago and another tells us where she dined that evening and what she consumed. We even get to see a photo of her, her husband and a couple of unsmiling relatives seated in front of their half-eaten dinners.
Babies and grandbabies are popular subjects.
Cats and dogs are insanely popular.
Homemade cupcakes and other assorted snacks rank right up there.
Self-congratulatory posts abound. Patting oneself on the back for everything from attending a conference to speaking at one, and from exercising to eating healthily. Someone even congratulated herself for blow-drying her hair straight, for the first time after four years. Another showed off her pregnant belly as if she were the first woman ever to give birth. And yay for the woman who told us that she was able to send something from her mobile device to be printed by her office printer. Now that was a bit of utterly fascinating information!
Kids’ sports achievements get their share of attention.
And who can ignore the stupefying number of vacation posts and photos from around the world?
One young woman I know, a graduate of an Ivy League university, astonishingly posts non-stop drivel about her life on Facebook, including the garbage she discovered on the floor of her car (left by one of her kids). She used to be interesting.
I know. I know. I don’t have to read all this stuff, but I can’t help myself. It’s riveting to learn what goes through our minds. We used to keep most of it to ourselves. Now that we have the means to let it all out, there’s no holding us back.
0 Responses to “What do YOU post on Facebook?”
Suzanne says:
Seriously, what do you *want* people to post in Facebook?
IMO, for commited Facebook users, it is an extension of an in-person social group. Expect to see stuff you would see if you were chatting in person with a fairly close friend or a new acquaintance. Some of it will be silly.
Sometimes people say silly things in person too, just to have a conversation.
Sometimes people give and and accept Friend requests to be polite, but they really don’t want what that actually means on FB.
There are degrees of intimacy between ‘friends’ that seem to vanish on FB. It is only a recent invention that one could scope their posts to different groups of people. It is also a new-ish invention there that you can scope what you would like to hear from your ‘friends’, though this tool is a bit of blunt instrument.
If one of your ‘friends’ is too intimate for your comfort, there is always the Hide button.
Geri says:
hi louise,
wonderful points you make
geri
Vera Brasher says:
I have tried on several occasions to ween myself from Facebook, but I always keep returning. Since TV news shows annoy me it’s basically where I keep up with what is going on. I can dig deeper or pass it by, my choice.
One of the most annoying things to me, are the constant posts telling me that if I really love my son, daughter, mother, father, dog, cat, etc. I will repost and share. Because if I don’t then I don’t love my… To me these things are private. I don’t need to let my son know via Facebook that I love him! And he would be annoyed if I did.
And each time I see my niece post a pic of her and her baby through the bathroom mirror with the vanity covered in “stuff” and clothes all over the floor I want to de-friend her! And guess what? She loves her baby so much! You know how I know? She posts it daily!
Christine Somers says:
In some ways I view Facebook as the “public square” and I am amazed at the kinds of things people “shout out”. For the most part, I read what is posted, smile and move on but like Louise I have been able to reconnect with friends from high school and college. And that fact alone makes it worth culling through the clutter.
Beth O'Donnell says:
I linked my Twitter and Facebook accounts so that my tweets post to my wall. I don’t think I post too much drivel (just posted that a fire alarm was going off during my mammogram; is that drivel?) but it I do, at least it’s only about 125 characters.
Geri says:
Hi Beth,
LOL! Perfect idea.
Geri
Louise says:
I don’t like other people’s drivel, so I don’t post any either. I like scrolling through posts from friends and “liked” pages. More often than not, I don’t respond unless it’s interesting enough. I don’t re-post statements that dare me to show loyalty. I’m not that loyal I guess. I try (but am not always successful) to distance myself from political rants or religious musings.
However, Facebook has allowed me to reconnect with high school friends. In fact, an unofficial reunion of about 25 classmates from 1965 will be gathering in June on Fire Island to celebrate memories, renewed friendships, and to share lots of laughs.
I have my own group based on family recipes or new recipes others want to share. We also exchange tips, suggestions, etc. The group (at least a few of the members, including me) is planning a trip to Las Vegas this coming October to do a restaurant crawl and have a good time.
Facebook also got me through my grieving process after losing my husband last August and then my mother six weeks later. Friends both real and virtual offered words of encouragement.
Sometimes I find myself bored with F/B and contemplate “dropping out.” But F/B is akin to reading a gossip magazine at the supermarket while you wait on line to check out. Curiosity compels me to check in; I just don’t buy it.
Geri says:
Hi Louise,
I appreciated reading your comment, especially your last paragraph. Well said!
Geri