Leaving Facebook.... Again
Hello revolving door, my old friend.
It’s me, Bet and I’m leaving Facebook again.
Social media and I have a revolving door relationship. It’s been that way for several years. As people and society changes, so does my opinion of the platforms. Facebook was a necessary evil for two reasons.
My younger sister spends most of her time there. She shares her love of plants with a large group of folks she’s met on Facebook. It’s her one social media platform and I understand why she stays there. Besides flowers it’s her outlet, the place where she gets her version of “me time” because she’s Mom to a special needs adult.
My son, Three, bought me a Quest 2 VR headset last year and it required a Facebook account in order to play the games. I grumbled. I whined. I cursed The Zuckerberg but I decidedthat my love of Beat Saber was stronger than my loathing for the Book of Face.
Facebook changed its’ name to Meta and is creating the Metaverse. I really should have bought the domain Betaverse 8 years ago when I thought of it as a blog name, but oh well. Finally in August we’ll be able to make Meta accounts and sever the Facebook link. I’m all for it. One could say I’m just getting cranky in my old age and one might call me a “Boomer”. If one chose to call me a “Boomer” they’d be on the receiving end of an expertly executed flip-flop slap. I’m 60, half Puerto Rican and a mom to 3 boys. Trust me when I say I’m an expert when using a flip-flop as a weapon. I’m also from New Jersey, and we Jersey gals know how to throw down when needed.
My man and I live quiet lives. Many folks have told us we’re too quiet that we need to get out and socialize more. We’re introverts except when in the company of people who have earned our trust. The social circle is small because we value our privacy and our sanity. We also value our weird. We are not the stereotypical American couple but in many ways we’re very vanilla.
Facebook and other platforms are just too noisy. They’re filled with people screaming “Look at me!! Notice me Senpai! WITNESS ME!!” For feck sake, settle down and learn to be happy with yourself.
When I was growing up in the 70s my parents and grandparents always wished for days gone by because they were simpler, quieter. I never thought I’d say that but I do wish for certain things from the decades when I was younger. Times were simpler but racism and gender discrimination didn’t get called out of the shadows like it does now. I want to pick and choose the good things and irradicate the bad but obviously that can’t happen without social upheaval.
There is a lack of simple respect for each other missing from our days. People are so busy screaming their opinions they’re unable to hear opinions of others. Actually, no one seems to want to listen to opinions or ideas that differ from theirs. I’m not saying we all need to shut up because change comes from the exchange of ideas. Can’t we exchange quietly, respectfully without drawing a line in the sand and declaring war on each other?
So here I am on my own blog where I can choose my words and not worry about Facebook suspending me because I wrote that I’d kick my adult son’s backside if he didn’t take his heart meds. Makes you wonder if someone reported me, or the Facebook Police are listening in like Big Brother. Either way, here I am to stay.
As I’ve written before, it’s an eclectic blog because I’m an eclectic kinda’ gal. There are always four or five artsy craftsy works in progress even while my brain is conjuring up several more. I’m a grandmother that enjoys video games, movies, and British TV. BritBox is life people. My blog is my online sanctuary where I can ramble about all the things I love and gush over episodes of The Golden Girls or Mrs. Brown’s Boys.
Oh and a little tidbit before I sign out for now. I’ve changed the name of the blog from Nim’s Whimsy to Just Betty. Even thought I’ve been using Nim’s Whimsy for over 6 years now I opted to change and I’m good with it. Eventually I’ll get around to changing my sign’-off on old blog entries from Nim to B but hopefully this prevents any confusion.
Peace,
B
