These are the times that try men's souls. A plague is loose upon the land. If left unchecked, it threatens to alter the very core of our being. From the time you awaken in the morning until you turn off the TV at night you will be affected by this scourge. It will influence how you interact with family, friends and co-workers. It could determine how much time you take to eat, shower and personally interact with others. It will consume your alone-time, especially the time you spend in the bathroom. That's right! I'm talking about the horror that is... over-posting on Facebook.
Oh, don't look so innocent. You know who you are. You post every homily, every aphorism, every cutsie saying or Youtube clip that informs your day. No event is too trivial; no meal or chance encounter too mundane to resist the need to tell the rest of us. Stuff that no rational person would consider transmitting via phone call, email or snail-mail, still makes its way into an endless series of "who cares" postings.
Having started out as a charming opportunity to share the occasional photo of your darling little (insert: dog, cat, goldfish, offspring or [shudder] grandchild) Facebook has blossomed into an internet obsession. Facebook posting has replaced smoking as something to do with your hands when nothing else is happening. We need rules, people! Here are a few humble suggestions:
1) Significance matters. If you dine at Le Cirque, tell us. If Wendy's forgot the mustard in your take-out order, keep it to yourself. If your dopey brother finally moved out of your mother's basement, share. If your son/daughter finished a Sudoku puzzle all by themselves, and it was just shy of their 35th birthday, hold that thought.
2) I'm guessing no one finds your family as interesting/beautiful as you do. Unless you are married to a Bundchen sister, one photo of any family member per month should be sufficient.
3) Words to live by, clever posters and great thoughts belong on bumper stickers not Facebook.
4) Sharing is caring. If we probably don't care...don't share.
In general, less is more. If you want your friends to read about your airport encounter with Tom Cruise, try not to post fifteen other notes about encounters with sales clerks, co-workers and a guy who looks like the guy on Good Morning America. Keep Facebook for cool stuff; you know, like blog announcements.
No comments:
Post a Comment