06 September, 2006

Facebook

OK, just like most people who use Facebook to network, I hate those Mini Feeds that describes your every action and broadcasts it to the rest of your social circle. It's only aggravated my problem with Facebook, though, so I've taken steps to see what I'm doing that isn't glorifying God and what I might do to change that.

At 1 Single Day (a retreat I went to this past weekend), I learned a lot about God. The theme verse was Isaiah 66:2, and it really made me wonder. Am I really humble and contrite in spirit, and trembling at the word of God? Also, I stumbled upon some verses that I want to become a theme in my immediate future: Psalm 42. Especially the first two verses. That conference made me really ask "when shall I come and appear before God?" I was so excited to wake up the next morning and read the Bible! I know God is constantly with me, of course, but I've gained a passion for actually "spending time" with God (who I now honestly believe is within my Bible), instead of the lukewarm moments I might spend on the trolley meditating on some mundane aspect of my life.

Later I realized how much Facebook has become a substitute for real socialization. It also makes me feel lonely, and left out...and leaves some sort of gaping hole in my heart where there wasn't one before I signed on. This is weird. It makes me think of addiction, and I HATE that. Utterly. So I'm not breaking ties with Facebook, but don't expect me to jump on when you leave a comment on my wall. Comment on my blog or e-mail me...or call! I'd much prefer a phone call to a facebook comment.

How do these two tie together? This blog is basically a public description of my mind and soul, so I try to think about what goes on this page and make it a true reflection of me. On Facebook, I'm merely competing for popularity (which I've never done before so seriously). I've noticed that, as my involvement in Facebook rises, my blog is declining, and since I value the process of thinking, I'm going to invest more in my blog. Perhaps my Sunday Summaries shall return (I have quite a few that never made it on this page). Perhaps I will describe events in my life so that posterity might enjoy them, rather than sticking a 1-liner up on my Facebook profile. Perhaps instead of updating my "status," I'll be able to think through my circumstances and discern God's will for my life better.

I really like blogging. It can get fanatic, yes, and I do check my friends' blogs quite often, but if you're going to socialize on the internet this is a much more personal and deep way to do so than Facebook or MySpace (Xanga doesn't count. I consider it a "true" blog, though still cluttered).

...speaking of critical thinking, here's some criticism to offer to the Facebook people: Don't change too much at once. Those notes were a bit strange, but I was thinking of feeding my blog through Facebook. Then the Mini Feeds came too quickly after that, and I didn't have enough time to adjust to the notes before adjusting to the Mini Feeds. So next time, change one thing and let it cook. Then change more. Be patient.

7 comments:

Laedelas Greenleaf said...

Note for posterity: Tonight at caregroup some ladies prayed for me to encourage me in my passion for the Bible. This was a big help!

Also, Mark Zuckerberg wrote a letter apologizing for the lack of privacy for the News Feeds on Facebook. Interesting. I still think I'm going to tone down my involvement on Facebook, but it's a good thing that he acknowledged his mistake.

khfco
Kids Hate Facebook's Corny Objections...?

Jason said...

"I've noticed that, as my involvement in Facebook rises, my blog is declining" Oh, so that explains your infrequent posts. :-)

"I really like blogging. It can get fanatic, yes, and I do check my friends' blogs quite often, but if you're going to socialize on the internet this is a much more personal and deep way to do so than Facebook or MySpace"
Well said. I actually don't do Facebook at all*, mainly because I know that it would be a huge temptation for me to waste a lot of time--I already spend more time on the internet (checking the news or my e-mail, reading blogs, etc.) than I like.



*I want to design a t-shirt that says "I don't do Facebook and I still have friends." There are only two problems: either people (i.e. anyone who's not 18-23) don't get it, or they can't honestly wear it. Maybe I'll still print some up for myself and the other two or three "qualified" students remaining in the country.

Annie said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Laedelas Greenleaf said...

Jason, have I really been posting significantly less often? I mean, I was in Europe for a while...

Annie, I got them on Saturday! They look wonderful. Thank you so much! Wal-mart lost my pictures (grr) so I need to find out what's going on with that before I can send pictures. Sorry for the wait! Also...welcome to my wood-elf world. I hope you enjoy what you see if you ever come back :-)


jzwne (in case you're wondering, this is making fun of the Word Verification feature)
Juvenile, Zealous, Wild Narfs Ejaculate

Laedelas Greenleaf said...

PS to Jason...You don't have Facebook OR a cellphone? Wow. That's quite an accomplishment :-)

That T-shirt sounds cool enough to get off of Facebook.


snanb
Shannon Nabs A Normal Banana

Clear Ambassador said...

I pretty much agree with your thoughts about Facebook and blogs.

"It also makes me feel lonely, and left out...and leaves some sort of gaping hole in my heart where there wasn't one before I signed on."

That was bravely honest, I thought. AIM used to be hugely like that for me, and really any quantifiable social interaction context is or can be like that. People have been doing that in offices and school halls for years and years, but internet things can make it more poignant and obvious.

That said, I am currently purposefully using both Facebook and AIM to keep up with the great people who have left my poor city for colleges around the nation. I'm not much into calling people just to chat, and I don't necessarily warrant that much time in most of these people's lives, so these proved nice low-key yet information-rich (if you work at it) means of keeping current. I have to stay focused and purposeful, though.

Dang, this comment was terribly-thought-out and very long. Sorry. No time to make it better. Thanks for posting.

fupgc
Fine Upstanding Proper Grove City

Jason said...

"You don't have Facebook OR a cellphone? Wow. That's quite an accomplishment :-)"

I like to look at it that way :-) But to the being-sociable-is-spending-hours-texting-and-Facebooking world we live in, perhaps I have the "utter social ineptitude" of an engineer, as described in that audio clip John has on his blog. The cellphone I do see as being inevitable, but I figure I'm saving $20-$30/month by waiting.

"Jason, have I really been posting significantly less often? I mean, I was in Europe for a while..."

True, but, you have 7 posts from the last 2 months compared to. . . *randomly clicking on a month in the archives* . . . 14 last April. Plus, you're the one who said "declining." I figured you meant in number, not. . . well. . . what did you mean?