Hi, my name is Erin. I hate Facebook. I don’t use it anymore. There are numerous reasons, but I think I’ve boiled it down to seven.
I started using Facebook around the end of 2008, but really ramped it up the beginning of 2009. I loved connecting with my family virtually when they lived so far away and reconnecting with old friends.
I had my moments where it was a bit too much and I had to learn to censor myself and finally, just keep some opinions to myself. The 2016 election was difficult. The aftermath was brutal. Bad grammar and poor spelling annoyed me. I have to ask at least once. When did stupidity become a commodity?
By the fall of 2017, I wanted to slit my wrists some days. I realized I needed a break. I relaxed. I went back on now and then between the winter of 2018 and beginning of 2019, but for the most part, I left my account deactivated. Lately, I check things through my author account and I get annoyed all over again.
This is why I can’t go back and use it full-time again:
- Grammar and spelling issues: From someone out in the boonies, I don’t mind the occasional misuse of “looser” for “loser,” though it makes for funny reading when they’re on a rant. I am “friends” with published authors who can’t spell out “you” or “are” and have atrocious grammar.
- Politics: I’m sick of hearing about it in general. I believe everyone has a right to their opinion and in free speech, but don’t try to shove your opinion down my throat when I’m not shoving it down yours. Furthermore, you can’t spend eight years whining about one president and then say the other side isn’t allowed to complain about the current president. It’s more than that, though. Social media is the worst thing to happen to politics.
- The Truth: Let’s be honest, Facebook has very little concern about whether or not someone is posting an “article” (I use that term very loosely) is based on any truth. Misinformation spreads like wildfire.
- Basic Decency and Dignity: Adults act like toddlers. All sides of the political and religious spectrum do it. If I’d behaved that way as a toddler, I would have been punished. Now, everyone complains when they are indecent and undignified, they have not only a constitutional right to do so (which is true within limits), but they feel they are completely immune from being criticized (which isn’t true) for their behavior.
- Hate: If people would admit they were racist or plain hateful, I’d at least have respect for them. They veil their hate as being justified “because of” (insert some random injustice that they believe white people have suffered).
- Cliques and Childish Behavior: I dealt with this in middle school and it’s childish behavior. Too many people are acting like they are competing to be head cheerleader. Yet, when they are the target or their child is, they are ready to sue. Between the ignorance, cruelty, and flat out mean girl behaviors, I’m surprised more people don’t brag about dating the starting quarterback. Wait, there’s “my hubby” and “dh” (dear husband) references to remind us they are in fact attached, which leads to the last item.
- Fake and Too Much Information: Women feel the need to say how “in love” and “amazing” their men are. As the meme goes, when everything hits the fan, we only get the first passive aggressive version or too much information. In general, everything is a facade, because everything they believe is fake.
These days, I don’t use Facebook at all. My original account is deactivated and the account that is activated is only used to friend family and a few very close friends. I check it maybe once every few months.
My family doesn’t post things on Facebook the way others do when horrible things happen like a death in the family or even requesting prayers. We tend to be quiet about our pain. People will console us when we need it, but it’s usually privately. In a way, I prefer that. It’s more dignified.