This morning DH got up early to work out. I got up early out of guilt (yeah, I hate to think of him thinking of me snoring while he’s lifting weights) and the need to write. Mornings are the quitetest times in our house and my day is so jampacked I knew I would have to write now or never.
Anyway, when I turned on the light, the newspaper was sitting there. I try not to read our paper in depth because I’m a snob. But the article on the front page intrigued me. A few pages in, an article made me snort my coffee onto my keyboard.
The reason: the article was on a class to teach the uneducated about Face book. Now I have a FB account, but use it infrequently. Again, I’m a snob and I won’t go into detail about why I don’t use it often. Let’s just say that the idea of grandpa’s trading crops online is more than I can handle. And grannies doing the Mafia Wars?
People are addicted to this thing. It’s like crack. One of the gals I know won’t eat dinner until after she’s played Farmville. I’ve seen families ripped apart because Mom Facebooks and leaves the sixteen-month-old to it’s own devices or because Dad hops on for a little dollop of extra-marital spice. I’ve heard adults say things they shouldn’t be thinking, let alone be doing and airing it for the whole world to see. And let’s not forget the teens…
Got bombed again last night. Can’t wait for round two tonight.
How does housework and homework get done? When does the dog get fed? And worse yet, when do people really connect anymore?
Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with Facebook. In fact, the concept of it and social networking in general is a good one. However, we are a gluttonous society and we don’t know when to stop.
I just worry that by addicting Grandma and Grandpa, we will feel less compelled to spend time with a generation that really needs that physcial, human connection. We will isolate them further and degrade the last years of their lives.
Call me a snob, but there you go. I would much rather spend time face to face with someone than a computer screen. I also think social networking has a way of getting out of hand rather quickly. I’ve been guilty of it.
Do you think the class will give tips on limiting Facebook time? Somehow I doubt it.
How do you prioritize your computer time? Do you ever find yourself losing track of real life because cyber life is so enticing? Have you spent your writing time tweeting about your breakfast, snack, coffee break, lunch…? Does your productivity in writing and life decrease with the use of social networking?
*Disclaimer: this is not to say that I don’t socialize online. In fact, I love my writing community and wouldn’t give it up unless it seriously impaired my real life. But hey, as a snob, I can pass judgement…that’s what snobs do.*
Words from the Woods 