Friday, February 10, 2012

Edge of Civility – My Thoughts on Facebook


I love social media.  LOVE. IT.



Obviously, right?  I blog.  I use Facebook and Twitter to promote my posts and connect with readers.



I use Facebook to check in with my close (and not so close) friends and family.



To some, it might seem like I share everything, but that is not true.



As much as I love social media, I am old-fashioned girl at heart.  I still believe that a phone call is the best method to deliver important news to my inner ring of family and friends.



If I am close to you (or as I perceive to be close as in by law or by blood, which my perception might be the root problem), and I find out on Facebook that you are pregnant, a new mom, married, divorced, moving and/or dead, I will be upset.  Probably more like hurt since I have just found out in front of the whole internet that our relationship is totally not what I thought it was.


When it comes to important stuff like that, I still believe a courtesy call is best before making an announcement on social media platforms.  If I have a big personal announcement to make, I like to treat Facebook as a press release to my 170+ friends.  If it’s big and I perceive our relationship to be one that is close in nature, I will call you first to spare you the shock and/or humiliation that you “found out on Facebook.”



I just don’t think that the person I graduated from high school who I never talked to then but somehow are friends now should find out something personal at the same time and in the same manner as my mother, my close friend, or my husband.  



Social media is great, but boundaries and respect and, most of all, manners are essential.  I feel that the Over-Sharer or the Attention-Seeker or Cryptic-Message Sender abuse their Facebook right and are in breach of the common courtesy contract that we as all humans share. (Or should share.  Or what I believe is common courtesy.  Which again, my perception might be the real issue here).

Some people play it too close to the edge of civility where their social media updates are concerned.  It’s upsetting.  . .yet like a train wreck, I cannot look away.



So let me ask you this:






 Have a great weekend!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with you on this. We told all of our close friends/family of all of our baby related news in person or by phone call. And SOME got a text. After the inner-circle was taken care of, it was onto the social networking "Press Release" stuff.

Lyndsay said...

I found out that a close friend got ENGAGED via FB. Was not happy. On the flipside, some extended family was upset to find out we were preggo on FB. So...

Diane said...

I agree totally. My friend found out about his sister's engagement on Facebook. That's low....

Erin Janda Rawlings said...

Right on! I agree with you. Obviously.

Erin Janda Rawlings said...

Ooohhh! That's cold!

Unknown said...

I totally agree, there are certain things that should just not be announced on facebook and twitter. I am still a big fan of a good old fashion conversation. I use facebook, text, and I blog so I do like social media but if you don't watch you lose touch with personal interactions.

Alexandra said...

I'm with you.

WHERE are the close inner circles and respect for lifelong relationships.

Erin Janda Rawlings said...

Thanks! Conversations are the best (with texting being a close second)!

Erin Janda Rawlings said...

Thanks! Totally agree!