Step Away From the Computer and Experience Life

I spend a fair amount of time on Facebook, although I have cut back considerably over the past few months.

Part of the reason is that it just hurts too much to read the never ending stories of cruelty to animals, trophy hunting, trapping and many other manifestations of the black hearts of so many people.

Another part of the reason is reading still more examples of the greed, corruption and incompetence of the current administration, along with its grab for more power.

Finally, I have noticed that some of Facebook's tactics have become ever more intrusive.. Some examples:

• The constant reminders to "boost this post" or "similar posts that were boosted got more views." Boosting, of course, means paying Facebook to increase the number of people who see a given post.
• "Suggested groups" reminders show up incessantly, especially on my mobile devices. Most of the groups are either located several states away from me, or are groups in which I have absolutely no interest.
• The same goes for "people you may know" suggestions.
• "Get more likes, comments and shares."
• "Pages you may like" 
• "Promote page"
• Suggestions to add another page administrator to my two writing and photography pages. Why would I want to give someone else control of my pages?
• Ads, ads and more ads.

I get it. Facebook founder and billionaire Mark Zuckerberg wants ever more money. But if I want to promote my page or find a group to join, I will do that without being badgered by Facebook. I don't need the constant badgering.

Social media of all sorts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others) is great up to a point. But it appears that people have become so consumed with social media that they are losing contact with the people and events in the real world. Combine social media with the 24-hour news, and one's mind can easily become overwhelmed.

I suspect I will continue to limit my exposure to all forms of media. It's far healthier for me to be outside taking a walk, playing with my dogs in our yard, taking a trip to someplace new, or reading a book, than to sit in front of a computer or tablet being bombarded by negative stories. 

Facebook: Is It Good or Bad?

I spend way too much time on Facebook, and I often feel overwhelmed by the stories about terrible cruelty to animals, the slaughter of elephants, lions and other African wildlife by 'trophy' hunters, and killing contests in the U.S. to see which team can kill the most coyotes or foxes in a given period of time. I have stopped following several pages simply because I was overwhelmed by all the cruelty and death.

But I also appreciate the fact that through Facebook, I can stay in touch with friends in Russia, Turkey, Kenya, Botswana and Ukraine -- many of them friends I met while traveling in those distant lands. I can offer my sympathy when something bad happens, such as terror attacks in Turkey and Kenya, and I can send encouragement as my Botswana guide prepares for his year-long trip to the United States. I can admire the photos of my Russian friend's dacha (country house) and gardens, and I can learn about Ukraine's on-going civil unrest from a Ukrainian friend who shares my love of golden retrievers. And I can enjoy the travels of other friends I met while traveling.

Facebook also allows me to sympathize when on-line friends lose one of their beloved dogs (many of my friends I met through our common love of golden retrievers), as well as celebrating birthdays and good times with them through cyberspace. I share the exciting news about my daughter's graduation from cosmetology school and her success in passing her state exams for licensing. I also use Facebook to share information -- both good and bad -- about the ongoing fight in Africa to save elephants and rhinoceros from extinction due to poaching, and to spread information about the plight of wolves in America and other countries.

So, is Facebook good or bad? It certainly has a wide-reaching impact, with billions of followers around the world. It can brighten my day with a shared cartoon or video, and it can bring sobering news.

I guess, like most things in life, it is neither good nor bad. It is what we choose to make of it. What Facebook is not is a substitute for real human interaction. It is not a forum for anonymously attacking others or spreading hatred. It is not a place to post pornographic videos or photos, or adds that say "Hi! I'm Jessica. I'm 22. Please send me a friend request." in the middle of a discussion about another topic.

I think the positives of Facebook and other social media outweigh the negatives, as long as we remember to live our real lives more than our on-line lives.