106 Post Not, Lest Ye Be Judged

I've now been on facebook a little over a year and I've come to the conclusion that some of us need a lesson on sharing, rather, NOT sharing. Sometimes.

I'd like to start by saying that I personally feel the whole purpose of us being on facebook is to reconnect with old friends, make new ones and keep each other apprised of things we deem important. The problem lies where some of you like to post things that are often very personal and intimate and then you get angry when someone comments on it.

Let's get the important part out of the way: DONT PUT SOMETHING ON HERE THAT YOU DONT WANT SOMEONE TO COMMENT ON!

You worked a lot and then had to work at home, take kids to games and make dinner? You have my admiration and condolences. Trouble at work? Again, condolences. Boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife troubles? Yep, same. The thing that really boils my carrots is when I or someone else comments on them, offering a personal suggestion about(possibly) how you can handle the given problem. We should say that if you have posted something and we feel we care enough about you to read it and be concerned, then we should(being a good friend) post our suggestion or answer. Well, maybe our condolences or regrets, it depends, right? Enter the dragon, so to speak. You opened the can of worms by baring your soul and at least in part, I dont think you have the right to get mad at the responses. The legitimate ones at least. I dont expect anyone to NOT defend an attack on your character(maybe you deserve it?) or an attack on your kid(s) unless they're hoodlums.

Isnt that the mentality? What more do you want from us? You dont post secrets unless you want people to see them. You dont go out in public in a low cut, tight blouse unless you want someone to notice the girls, right? It's exactly the same. Dont wear something revealing if you dont want people looking and dont post things you dont want people to read or comment on. I'm very sorry that your toaster repairman was found to be a bipolar cereal killer but if you dont like (yes, I said cereal) the responses that I give, keep it to your self.

Most of us feel strongly about the same things: we hate people that hurt kids, women and small animals. We dont like corporate greed and corruption in government. We bitch and moan about going to work, not having a job, not having a job we like and a host of other work-related gripes. We bitch about the poor state of schools, teachers, discipline and curriculum. We gripe about the price of gas, groceries and the cost of the useless wars we're fighting. We bitch about our weight, our sex lives(or lack of) and how "he/she done us wrong". The instant someone posts what they feel would be a helpful suggestion or idea, you get mad and the fur starts flying. Hurt feelings, spiteful words and unfriendings occur every day.

People always tend to lash out when they're insecure or they're angry and dont know an appropriate response. Do you know the old saying" we tend to hurt the ones we love"? So, if you're reading this and you can pronounce words more than two syllables, I hope the next time you see red when someone (in their own way) is trying to help you, you step back, calm donw and at the very least, say thanks for your concern and then get back to your troubles. Dont get into a shouting match, well, typing match, and dont read too much into it. Just stop and think before you hit that little enter button. If its THAT personal or THAT embarassing, DONT POST IT! You must want some kind of attention, because you DID post it, so choose your words carefully and be prepared to accept the consequences.

All this being said, I hope NONE of you quit posting about your Aunt's infected bunion or your boss's lesbian daughter that has a free web-cam(send me the address)or the squirrel that thought your husband's nuts were the right kind. I hope you all feel the need to keep your extended family in the know and if you have any interesting pictures, please, post away. Just dont be shocked when I tell you that your clothes are(nt) too revealing, your boob job went well, your an idiot for buying that ______ with a credit card or that pound cake you baked looks like its at least 3 and a half pounds.

Oh, feel free, as the season approaches, to post all the half-nekked pics you want, just not of your 375 pound uncle. Well, maybe. They may be interesting too. Kinda like watching a train wreck. You know it aint right, but man...you really just want to be mesmerized by the horror of it all. Remember: Sex sells, trauma is great as long as its not yours and watching people do stupid, embarassing things is great...as long as you cover one eye and peek through your fingers.

Oh, again--STOP POSTING IF YOU CANT HANDLE THE COMMENTS! I love you all, you're the best people I've ever been associated with and since we know each other so well, its okay to do your postings with your shirt off. And the webcam on. :)