The Good, the bad and the ugly…
I became so disillusioned with Facebook the other day that I vacated it.
The anger, rudeness and unadulterated aggression between those who support Trump and those who don’t’ had become unbearable.
It has been a progressive thing – as Trump moved closer to POTUS, so people became more outspoken. Culminating in a display of all that is negative about social media.
What happened to the wonder that was Facebook – to the sharing of ideas and points of view? To friendship and happiness and commiseration?
In my case, I placed a post on my wall asking people for opinions so that I could be more informed. One Trump-supporting person messaged me privately (at least that showed respect) but then persisted with a number of further messages which I didn’t ask for and tried to close down, and when I finally ‘finished’ the discussion, she promptly de-friended me. So much for allowing others to have a different view of life.
The second time – I made a single line comment about how I admired the women of the world, the millions across the globe, for their march this week. I offered no comment, but whilst I slept in the southern hemisphere, opinions proliferated between those who were cynical and those not and I woke to an air of angst.
I have watched whilst friends’ walls have been used with disrespect and with antagonism and I know I’m not the only one who left Facebook for a time, to claw back some belief in the sanity and kindness of this world.
So what did I do whilst away?
I spent time with my husband – a man who understands all forms of media far better than I do after working in it for over 40 years. (And who still works privately as a media consultant.) He has merely to hold my hand for me to have faith in human nature again.
I spent time talking to my daughter and my son about life, the universe and everything.
I spent time with my dog who always makes me laugh and who loves me unconditionally, no matter what my opinions might be.
I wrote more of Michael – it grows word by word, line by line.
I stitched.
I gardened.
I ordered the navy silk shantung for my trousers for the family wedding. I booked myself in for fittings for same. And I had a long call to a very wise friend interstate who knows OH, Dog and I very well!
I watched Federer…
I swam, walked, read and watched a delicious subtitled French movie on Netflix called Blind Date with OH at my side.
And I joined Instagram…
What a treat!
Pics on Instagram are to die for and I do love the hashtags people use – inventive, funny, off the cuff.
Far far better than Twitter and fresher than Facebook.
Anyway – here’s to the visual beauty of life through things like Pinterest and Instagram.
Here’s to humour.
And here’s to the hope that Facebook resumes it’s fine former self…
I agree with you Prue. Since I am closer to the issue I have had to deal with a lot of friends and family (and prospective family – my daughter’s fiancee is a Trumpite as are his family members) who espouse the way of Trump. For the most part I have tried to steer clear but find it hard going. I just cannot fathom how this man got elected…I am extremely dismayed that so many people think he is the answer. I grew up in the 60’s and watched the Civil Rights Movement bring “equality” forward…now I fear that those gains may have been for naught. Bigotry has been with us forever but I thought we were heading in the right direction. It seems, though, it has just been biding it’s time waiting for the right moment and the right person to reawaken the sleeping demon. In the 1860’s the country split into two…we are playing out that scenario again only this time there can’t be a secession along geographical lines – this is far uglier and every passing day will bring out even more reasons to resist that man ( I find it hard to even write or speak his name) and his policies. I’ve been told and have read many times that I/we should respect him as he is the President. Bulls**t – respect has to be earned and he has done nothing to merit it – in fact he earns more disrespect almost daily.
Sorry for the rant – I am pissed off but don’t want to feed the fire on Facebook any longer. I haven’t unfriended anyone though I have turned off the notifications of a few.
Paul
Oh Paul. Isn’t it sad that in a very short space of time, so much that is bad of human nature has outed itself?
For myself, I shall watch the events unfold, say nothing in social media but hope that you and many other of my American friends are safe. With that I must be content.
I also have watched Federer, never been much of a fan of FB
It’s not that I don’t understand how tiresome it is to be inundated by political posts and calls to action for a political situation that has very little to do with your life (except for things like climate change initiativeses, which will affect everyone on the planet). It’s just that I very much intend to keep using FB, Twitter, and whatever other tools are available to me to combat the very real crises that are happening in my country. Try to imagine your OH being denied treatment, or your DD not having access to basic reproductive health care. Because in the last week, I woken every day to news that the “leaders” of my country are summarily trying to enact legislation to deny health coverage to 20 million people; deny reproductive care to all women who don’t have trust funds; remove the checks and balances that have been in place for generations to safeguard such arbitrary acts. Imagine knowing that your government wants to decimate the public education system and step back from a global commitment to try to roll back climate change concerns. Imagine that your elected leader has deep-seated and highly questionable ties to countries whose interests do not align with those of your own country and whose ties give you legitimate concern that he will act in self-interest rather than in the interests of the country he was elected to govern. Imagine that your governing officials not only lied to you repeatedly but admitted it and didn’t care. Imagine if everything you’d grown up understanding about the way your government should behave (I’m talking basic decency and accountability, here, not differing ideologies). Now imagine giving up an important tool for communicating with others to try to reverse these things because it’s pleasanter to pretend that these crises don’t exist. I know you understand this, because you fought long and hard and publicly against salmon farming and what it would do to your idyllic home. It’s exhausting to see endless posts of despair and defiance and anger. It’s even more exhausting to feel those things. I’ve always been pretty apolitical and I’ve been able to generally tune out. But even someone as oblivious as I am can’t remain unaffected by what is happening in my country. I have to do what I can and a lot of what I am able to do is share information, write to my legislators, join forces with others who, like me, can’t afford to ignore this path we’re on. I’m distressed to be cutting people out of my life whom I’ve considered friends because I know they support a man who despises women, people of different nationalities and races, people who are disabled, people who love differently. And by support, I don’t mean agree — they are welcome to hold whatever personal beliefs they want. I mean support actions to take away the rights of those who don’t agree with them. I’m horrified by this. So I will use Facebook to whatever extent I am able, despite making it a less pleasant place, because it is an available tool in a woefully inadequate arsenal. I don’t want to subject you to something that affects your personal peace, and I completely understand if you want to mute my posts (probably a good idea, actually) on FB. I can’t, in good conscience, stop those posts, but I also don’t want to inflict them on you. I truly don’t mind — it won’t affect our friendship in the slightest. I won’t mute yours, though, because yours give me a glimpse of a lovelier world and remind me of what I am working toward. I do thank you for that.
Rebecca, I understand what you must do. Of course I do. And that is perhaps when social media comes into its own – it’s an enabling tool. If Australia was heading to where the USA is heading at breakneck speed, then I would be shouting from the rooftops. I won’t mute your comments at all, nor any other of my friends. How else will I stay informed? I just won’t become involved in the debate.
Besides, you and I know of other ways of communicating, don’t we? And an email will shortly head your way! Chin-up ducky!
Thank you, Prue. It means so much to me that you understand. Love you.
Thank you Prue.
Cheers, Beth.
Sounds like you have had a lovely time Prue, gosh there are really some right numpties about who if you don’t agree with them then all hell seems to break loose. People have to agree to disagree sometimes. I do think facebook can bring the worst out in some people. sometimes i’ll scroll past stuff and other times I’ll comment depends on what its about
It seemed a much better use of your time and looks like its been very productive
I haven’t got to Instagream yet…. as for pintrest I think I have a board, but can’t remember how to get there or what to do when I get there. Maybe I’ll find time for them 🙂
sending love and hugs to all xxx
Instagram and Pinterest are beautiful, Libby. A pleasing change from the tensions of the world. Pinterest is so easy to operate (in my opinion easier than Instagram) and I am sure as i become more and more familiar with Instagram, I shall operate it with ease.
Numpties? 🙂