I Like That!

Living in the digital age has become rather vain. I do more than chuckle when people “like” their own status or photo- Whether it is clicking the like button on Facebook, or the +1 button on Goggle+, or what have you. Sometimes I feel like I need a puke bag on the side of my laptop. Is the constant need for acceptance so important that we feel the need to like our own posts on every social networking site? Isn’t it obvious that you like the new pair of shoes that you just bought?  Isn’t it evident that you like the new picture that you just posted? I’m surprised all of this liking hasn’t crashed a system or two.  Single handedly.  By you.

It’s is no wonder that only 60% percent of the population of the United States is on Facebook compared to the 80% of countries such as Brazil. Facebook still considers the United States one of the markets that needs to be tapped into. I do not think that it is the fact that only 60% of Americans are on Facebook, but rather that 20% of the population has deleted their accounts. There are a few people that I know personal that have deleted their accounts, and I miss their informative posts and links. Now that leaves us with 10% of the population that have no idea what Facebook is, and 10% that think it is a digital book.

The constant rants about stupid people, started by stupid people, only to be continued by stupid people, often have made me want to do some spring cleaning. Our social diet is making us overweight and we often do not get to enjoy the activities that we participate in, because we are too worried about making that update. But why are we so vain?  Why are we so trapped in the need for constant attention and not constant enlightenment?  The chemical reaction from pushing the like button on our own content may lead to a social networking overdose.

I like everything that I post on social networking sites for one reason or another. If not I wouldn’t have taken the time to post it. I enjoy sharing articles and blogs, pictures of my family and events that I may have attended, but if you notice I do not “like” them. You already know that I like them that is why they are being shared. The like button is like a sticky mouse trap that we laid down on the ground and we often get stuck on it ourselves.

  

Defriend, Delete, Disconnect

I enjoy social networking sites; they are great for connecting with “real friends”. I have been defriended by some people because of what I say, and will continue to say. I have also defriended people as well because of their constant talking of nothing. I have dealt with the stalkers, the haters, and enjoy the congratulators.

I do not mind when I get defriended, and do not act like a baby whose lost his binky. That is the beauty of social networking sites- you can control access if you are intelligent enough. I ran into a situation where I deleted a person because we continued to fight all day long, but I still valued the friendship. Just because we are not friends on a social networking sites has no connection with how we act in the real world, or so I thought. 

I was defriended by an individual, and later, saw them in the local supermarket. Did I ask them why they defriended me? No. I just had a friendly conversation and moved on about my business. There needs to be an understanding that some people do not need to be friends on social networking sites and can still have a personal friendship. No matter how much we think we are being real, or being ourselves, on social networking sites, I call “bullshit”.   Sometimes we are nothing but superficial avatars of ourselves, clamoring for attention.

There are some that keep it real. They will let you know when they are having a bad day, or if their day is great. But that is not the majority. Most people are trying to pawn their music, or promote a shoe company that they don’t even get incentives from. 

The power of social networking sites is not being used to its fullest potential, but rather for farming on farm town, running around in mobster-land, or for just plain old fronting.  Social networking sites are a tool to inform, educate, and yes share those special moments. But there are some things that social networking sites are not for. Like arguing with your spouse or claiming that you are what you are not.

The option of defriending, blocking, and deleting is one that is important and should be exercised as often as possible. (I’m sure I’ll lose a couple after this post) For example, the friend that always has something negative to say about every post you make, well friend; you are now blocked from comments.  What about the friend that always tags you in images you’re not in, or those monthly birthday calendars… cool, all 50 of us are Virgos, that’s great to know! 

So no, you are not my social networking or virtual friend, but rather, negative energy that could cause cancer, a tumor, or some unknown disease that will be diagnosed in the next few months. Sure, we are not supposed to always agree on everything- what is the purpose of that? But to always be instigating an argument on the internet is pathetic. If you do not like what someone says feel free to defriend, delete, or block- that is why those options are available to you.  Or, like you mom always said, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

If you get deleted, be an adult about it and move on. Do not ask why; do not send a message through the same social networking site that you got deleted from. Take it personal if you want because your friend count is down one. I am sure that there are a few supermodels that would like to be your friend and link you to pictures of tennis shoes.