Through the years I’ve come to realize I’m a very passionate person, and sometimes I don’t just like things or dislike them. I either love them or hate them. And other times, I vacillate between the two for a while before I decide which feeling is right. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a Leo and we tend to have a flair for the dramatic and being stubborn, or if it’s just an annoying character flaw. Either way, my love-hate relationship with Facebook is beginning to resemble my love-hate relationship with dieting and exercise.
One minute, I think it’s the most annoying Website in the world, and the next minute I’m on there eagerly reading my friend’s status updates. To be honest, I was a little slow to get on board with Fb in the beginning because it seemed more for college students. I also enjoy other social media sites, mainly Twitter and Plurk, tremendously more. But a lot of my real world friends only do Fb so there I am in all of its stalking glory.
Yes, you read it right, stalking. I really think it’s a dangerous slippery slope toward stalking. You can see the minute someone updates his or her status, posts a picture, writes on somebody’s wall, etc. You can see when they’ve broken up with someone, or started dating someone. You can see when someone tags them in a photo. Which, if you’ll allow me to digress, bothers the bejeesus out of me. I don’t want to be tagged in photos, I try to limit the actual amount of truly private information I put out there and that includes photos. There’s no reason people I work for or with, potential employers, my students, etc. need to see photos of Miss Attitude having a few cocktails or doing anything else that could be construed as embarrassing.
Then there’s the ex-factor. Ex-flames, flings and even friends who “friend” you. Ones you wouldn’t mind seeing again and ones you NEVER want to see again. I recently saw an ex become friends with someone on my friends list, and happened to notice his profile picture is him and his wife riding horses on the beach. Are you kidding me with that? I’ve never seen him ride horses in his life or heard him talk about it either, but now I know that’s the picture he wants to share with the whole world. And before you ask, no I did NOT send him a friend request. I’ve seen enough, thank you very much.
I have friends on there I enjoy talking to after losing touch years ago, but I also have friends on there I barely remember or wished I could forget. I have friends on there who flirt with me despite a “in a relationship” or “married” status. I’ve even had a few requests I had to ignore, and others I wish I had. So I’m left wondering, when will my love-hate relationship with Facebook dissipate?
Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude
Never really got into it. I have an FB account, I logged in like 3 times. I don’t even know how to request to be friends. :blink: <- love it.
Oh no I don’t belong to facebook. Although I admit after reading this post it looks quite interesting but I really can’t handle another social site I can’t even keep up with the ones I am on now! :silly: <–Love it
I go in spurts with Facebook. I forget it for weeks at a time and then I get an e-mail notification that someone wants to be my friend. I hop over and cannot get enough! I love it and I hate it all at the same time.
XOXO :dizzy:
Miss Attitude, I couldn’t agree more. It is a slippery slope. I joined a few weeks ago and that is how we reunited after so many years. For the first two days I was addicted, but then reality set in. My ex was stalking me and so were her friends. And they were stalking my friends as well.
Too many bad things that can happen. Look at the Patriots cheerleader story.
As long as you keep a low profile, lock down your permissions, and don’t use it after having a few too many drinks you should be fine.
Facebook has been cool for reconnecting with my high school class…but I still don’t find any of them in the least interesting. As for those tagged photos… you can UNTAG yourself and keep them from showing up in YOUR photos or referencing you (I’ve done that to mine….shhhh)
My thought process: Don’t post anything on the internet that you don’t want the world to know or see. I’m HIGHLY sensored on facebook and myspace but VERY open on plurk, etc. (My family has yet to find plurk…lol)
I also just recently joined, and so far, it’s been a great experience — I’ve found friends from high school with whom I’d lost touch years ago, cousins, former co-workers and many more. But I’ve also made sure to share only what’s necessary personal info wise. If one uses it intelligently, one should have a rewarding experience.