I’ve tried to restrain myself from doing a Facebook-inspired post, but it can’t be contained any longer. What tipped the scale was this status update from a “friend” of mine just now: “Anyone have a tampon? I’m out?” Seriously?! Why not just ask an eighth of the world to pick a stray booger out of your nose? Don’t get me wrong, I’m as active a Facebook user as the next “normal” Facebook user, but now and then people just seem to lose all perspective. Let’s look at status updates – 100% voluntarily contributions to the virtual share-o-sphere in which all your friends and most people you’ve ever socially interacted with for more than 2 hours are congregated.
Here’s what people are posting:
A. Sorry, but NOBODY CARES!
There seems to be a whole trend of posting about small and mundane details of one’s life: “I’m on a bus”; Cool, and I’m breathing. “uhg gotta work tonight hope it goes good!!!!!” Is it too much to ask for at least a bit of grammar? “Pomegranate juice in my eye.” While unfortunate, I’m wondering how this played out in real time: cut a piece of pomegranate, it sprays in eye, I run rapidly to my iPhone and type it in while the red liquid is oozing from my face, give a little sigh of relief because I got it on Facebook in time.
Others choose to post their entire day’s schedule. This would be helpful if they had a stalker, or were the victim of a serial killer, but for the rest of us…
B. Pregnant people posts
I have a lot of pregnant “friends” all of the sudden. It’s great; I’m very happy for them. But there seems to be some tacit understanding among them that putting naked pictures of oneself online is totally cool provided your belly is at least the size of a throw pillow. I mean, who knows, I may do the same if or when I’m ever pregnant, but it can get a little much. This is nothing, however, in comparison with my former “friend’s” posts of herself in labour in the family bathtub. I can’t image wanting ANYONE to see me in labour, let alone voluntarily passing it around to untold numbers of online spectators. Maybe she was trying spread awareness of the beauty of womyn.
C. What???
Speaking of the beauty of Womyn, have you ever heard of vaginal knitting? No? Umhum, it’s a thing. Brilliantly shared on Facebook with an expression of appreciation for the creative and unique forms of feminist expression. Personally, I don’t really think knitting from yarn stuffed up my vagina would be very liberating, but check it out.
D. TMI
There is definitely a lot of TMI going around on Facebook, and we can all think of plenty of examples. It’s sad when people have to share the details of their evolving heartache online, but I guess they feel some recognition and maybe experience some warrior-like sense of persevering through hardship by spreading the news. I’ve learned the intimate details of broken relationships and unplanned pregnancies from people I haven’t seen in 10 years. If they’re fine with it, then I am (a bit like a real-time soap opera) but I feel a little like an intruder sometimes and I’m not even trying.
E. Treating Facebook like a person
“Facebook, what do you think are the greatest challenges of being a woman?” I think Facebook “thinks” some code and doesn’t reply. Little newsflash, Facebook is not a human!
F. I’m not even going to get into the selfie trend………Recent “friend’s” post: ”me chillin…….bored so took a few selfies just because” that pretty much sums up a lot.
And more and more and more, but I will end this miniature rant prematurely. Now you can say the same about useless bloggers posting on Facebook.
tararachael 