I Don't Have A Facebook Account

Never have so few words, gotten such a blank stare, as the ones mentioned in the title of this post. I swear to you I could say, "I once spent a summer smoking crack with sea otters while making sweaters out of human pubic hairs" and it would be regarded with less shock. Said sweaters would also probably immediately make the front page of Etsy. They're down like that.

I used to have a Facebook account. I posted far too much on this Facebook account. I still, to this day, have friends tell me, "Facebook isn't the same without you" or "I miss your ridiculous Facebook posts." I smile and say stuff like, "Aww, shucks." I don't miss Facebook one bit, and I can honestly say I will never have a Facebook, nor a Twitter account, ever again.

Why, you ask? Well, I obsess to the max on these things. I would post way too much. I'd have to comment on everyone's posts. If I were not on Facebook for several hours, I felt like "Oh my god I've probably missed something terribly important." But you know what? I didn't. And after over a year of not having Facebook, I am still not missing anything. I have a phone number, and an email (an AOL email mind you), and this rad place called a house you can come to if you'd like to communicate with me.

I got really tired of people thinking that "liking" a status update therefore signified they were a good friend. Wishing me a happy birthday on a site, that reminds you that it's my birthday, is lazy. Saying you cancelled something by sending me a Facebook message, is not appropriate. Don't get me started on going out nights with people who were so busy trying to update Facebook with what we were doing, that they really weren't even a part of what we were doing. "Hey, look how much fun I'm having!" really equated to this:

Source

The article that picture came from is pretty good too. I am in no way interested in hanging out with a bunch of people who are texting or whatever, and not present where we are at the moment.

I spent a few months complaining how social networking and technology were making it socially acceptable to be rude, and entitled. Then I followed my own rule about complaining: you can only complain about something three times, until you need to actively do something to fix what you are complaining about. So I did. I cancelled all of my social networking accounts. At first I thought my world would end, but after about two weeks I sighed with relief. I am glad to no longer have anything to do with such things.

I understand why people have these accounts. I think if you use them responsibly they are fabulous tools. But they are a convenience, not a necessity. A lot of people forget this. I once brought up, on Facebook, how there would be a day each week I'd be leaving my cell phone at home. I said I would respond to texts and such the next day, so don't be alarmed if you couldn't get in touch with me. This started a whole slew of people accosting me about, "But I need my cell phone 'cause I'm a mom." To which I replied, "Oh yes, because the centuries in time before the cell phone, or even land lines existed, no one could effectively mother a child." Now, none of my choices to disengage and disconnect had anything to do with anyone. They were just things I needed to do. But as with everything else, people personalized my choices. They took it as a personal attack that I wanted to sever the leashes. Well, that's awesome and all. I only came back smartassedly once people started going down the laundry list of reasons why they couldn't possibly go a day without their cell phones. I liken this to people who say they'd die if they had to go a weekend without the Internet. I have several times given the response of, "One could only hope." I know, I'm a terrible human being. We've covered this already.

Coincidentally, I had to create a Facebook account on Thursday to do some research on kids cheating on tests by posting pictures of the tests on social media sites. It totally sealed the deal that I want nothing to do with this stuff ever again.

The day after I cancelled I received several, "Did you delete me on Facebook?" texts as that is apparently the new, "Did I do something to make you angry?" question. I laughed as I wrote back, "No, I deleted my account." I even had two friends who stopped speaking to me because they assumed I'd deleted them on Facebook, and got mad. Well, good riddance to bad rubbish I say.

Of all of the things I do, I can honestly say that I don't compare myself to other people. When other people go on a diet, change their eating habits, start exercising more, quit smoking, or do anything else they want to do to "better" themselves, I never take it as a personal stab. I mean, who would? A ton of people, that's who.

Which leads me to other situations where I have tried to live a healthier lifestyle. I lightened my friend load significantly when I quit drinking. Never would I have imagined I'd get so many negative reactions, to a positive life choice. Why would you think I would quit drinking and become judgmental, when I was never judgmental before? Does quitting something that is killing me automatically mean I am going to start talking about how much you imbibe? Apparently a lot of folks seem to think that's the case.

When I started eating healthier and cutting out the processed foods, some people responded negatively. My food choices aren't about you. What is wrong with people? Yes, I only buy local chickens where I've researched the farm they came from. That doesn't mean I give a shit what kind of chicken you eat. These choices I make are about ME. What do some people not get about that? Also, I eat the same raised in a cage with their beaks sawed off chickens most people do, when I go eat at my soul food places, so there's that. Get over yourself. I got over myself a long time ago.

Okay, ranting post over. But seriously, next time someone you know makes a choice to better themselves, if you take it personally, that's your issue. It has nothing to do with the other person, and everything to do with your own insecurities. Figure that out, and keep calm and carry on.

Happy picture of the day: this totally cracked me up.