October 29, 2013

why Facebook (occasionally) makes my skin crawl

I feel I should elaborate on a Facebook status that I posted yesterday as it left a few questions unanswered.

The status was this:

"oh facebook. sometimes the glimpse I get into others' lives just isn't what I want to see. nobody enjoys a bragger. nobody enjoys a conceited soul. think about what you're putting out there, people. it's not always flattering. sigh."

This could be interpreted a million different ways. We all know that people drive people crazy. We all have "friends" that over-share their personal family matters, beg for pity and attention, 'check-in' everywhere they go six times a day seven days a week, complain about health issues etc. We can't love everything about everyone. By choosing (or feeling obligated) to become "friends" with a person you are potentially stepping on a beehive. We may not realize this at the time of the initial high-five but we might learn a different side of someone that we thought we knew. A truly unflattering side.

For me, my issue is mostly with show-offs. I don't understand the concept of trying so hard to make people envy you. Most people know better than to envy anyone. The front you put up is most certainly masking things you are unhappy with. The perfect picture these types attempt to paint is already soiled by the fact that we usually know their real lives. You say you're a hotshot at your job but we know your title. You brag about your new car but you leave out the fact that your parents bought it for you. You may think you're celeb status because you go on five trips a year but you don't brag about charging those trips and spiraling into debt.

Don't get me wrong - this isn't always the case. Plenty of my friends are hard-working, good people who are responsible and deserving of everything they have. Most of my friends are awesome. Show pictures of your degree - you worked hard for it! Just don't post something like, "If you don't have one of these you are just a slacker." That's not nice. Show your excitement for your upcoming trip - you deserve a break! Just don't post something saying, "Off to Belize tomorrow, you wish you had my life!" That's just annoying.


Post pictures and videos of your beautiful children. Post before and after pictures of your weight loss. Promote your new business. Be proud. Just don't pretend to be something you aren't. And (most importantly) don't act like you are better than anyone. Be happy in your life with where you are and what you have without having to shove it in the faces of people who aren't interested. I hate writing this because it sounds like I am bitter and envious - but it's not that at all. It's an enormous distaste for bullshit that I have. I see through those thin veils - I'm no gullible gert. There is a part of me that wants to expose these frauds time and time again. Instead I sit back and watch as people buy into it. I bite my lip. It has nothing to do with me, it shouldn't bother me. But I'm not perfect by any means - things piss me off. This is just one of them. 

Feel free to share your biggest Facebook pet peeves in a comment.

4 comments:

  1. I'm not sure why, but I LOATHE when people post about being in the hospital, having to go to the hospital, or perpetually posting photos of their children in the hospital. It really irks me. Like, a post about being sick once in a while is okay, but those posts that are about a different ailment every day make me want to delete them. But like a car crash you can't look away from......

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    1. I'll see your hospital posts and raise you a "here's a picture my infected thumb" - Nothing grosser than scrolling through my newsfeed to find something oozing and inflamed. vomit city.

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  2. I agree 1 million percent. I am probably annoying with the 8 million pics of my kid, but none of my family is here and it is for there benefit, plus I think she is awesome. I feel like if you are my "friend" and my pics annoy you than delete me, but since I have not deleted you for pretending to live a perfect FB life when I know the truth, get over it lol. I do not understand why people feel the need to pretend they have this perfect existence. We all have problems. We all understand that life can SUCK, no need to pretend otherwise.

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    1. Exactly. I just wouldn't feel right about gloating or bragging or showing off - I wasn't raised that way. I don't see anything wrong with sharing lots of pictures of our babies or animals - I can't see how that could be labeled "annoying". We do that out of love and pride. :)

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