Sunday, January 9, 2011

The Evil Power of FaceBook

FaceBook has become a hot topic of late, both at work and now at home.  What's appropriate as an employee, and what's offensive at home.  I've long suspected that choosing your friends wisely is important, and now I'm convinced that it is imperative, especially in the internet age.  Why, you ask?

In my depression over the train wreck that is my personal life, I made a relatively innocuous statement on my FaceBook status that men suck.  To be precise, I said "Yep... it's official... (straight single) men still suck".  And while some of my female friends either agreed or offered their condolences, my brother took offense and made some comments that rather offended me about "women who hate men".  Pardon me?  Did I say I hate men?  I don't think so, I think I said that men suck.  Doesn't mean I don't still want one!

To make a long story short - I hope - my brother and I may never speak again.  My message to him was bitchy, his posts were snippy, then we moved to email where I got bitchier, and where he remained offended because I deleted his posts from my page.  Actually, I can't believe how quickly we both went "junior high", with the "are you un-friend-ing me?  is that what you're saying?" and "I didn't say that" and "just tell me yes or no, that's all".  I'm surprised we didn't stomp our feet and tell our best friends that we aren't ever speaking to the other one ever, ever, ever again!  I am now expecting to hear from our mother to find out why I'm so mean to my brother.  Good grief, are we really still 13?

The power of FaceBook... it seems to have the power to reduce adults to the behavior of 13 year olds.  It can break up friendships at the speed of light.  It can drive a sane person over the edge.  Perhaps we need to think a bit longer before we 'friend' everyone we meet online.  Do we really want ALL of our co-workers to know about our personal lives?  Should we add clients to our FB friends, especially if we are going to comment about our day at work?  Do we really want everyone in our family to know what we did last night - and with whom?  Maybe we should think about that a little more before we add absolutely everyone to our friend lists?

So, while I still think the majority of men suck (straight and/or single), and the line "You're really awesome but I've found someone special" is about the most hurtful thing a man (or woman) can say, I may not be posting it on FaceBook anymore.  Maybe.

Look for a new post (here) about the actual suckiness of men... coming soon!

No comments: