Why I'm Not On Facebook Anymore

Not that anyone really cares but I thought I would explain why NW Backyard Veggies is off Facebook now.

First - some background. I was the last holdout of all of my friends to join FB. I didn't want to do it because I felt it was too personal, that people were silently watching me through my updates and that FB has unadulterated access to all my content. That all made me a little uncomfortable. But I was already blogging, and just the mere fact that I am on the interwebs at all means someone has my information somewhere. Essentially, privacy was already out the window. In for a penny, in for a pound, right?

So I joined. First as myself, and then as my two businesses.

And everything was fine. I accepted only friend requests from people I really wanted to chat with - no ex high school friends or people whom I really didn't like. I kept it real.

Then I liked some pages. Political things mostly. And atheist page. A truck load of farming and Urban Agriculture pages (the only ones I miss now.)

In the beginning I checked it every week - didn't think about it at all, really. I forgot about it mostly.

At the end, I was on it 8-9 times a day.

Enough.

There is a silent cajoling that happens with sites like FB - don't go away too long, or you're gonna miss all this stuff! Stay...stay...stay.... Check in, update, post, make sure you link to the right things...blah, blah, blah. I was starting to feel bullied. I also started to feel out of control.

And it's a freakin' website, y'all. LAME.

Reality kicked me in teeth when I did something I never do - I commented on a post from a page I liked. Not a friend, but a page. As a rule, I just read the posts, not the comments, but I felt one side was not being represented. It was a nice little comment - but I was offering another side to the original post. And I was instantly excoriated, bashed, made fun of and heckled. By the administrator! Other people started backing me up to the admin. But it was no use. The shine was off the penny. I don't like confrontation (unless it's warranted) and I don't like aggression when actual conversation will suffice. I saw the admin's reaction, thought about all my feelings about FB and instantly deactivated my account.

I was out.

And the huge relief that surged over my body was completely unexpected and totally refreshing. I felt like a weight had been lifted. Last time I felt like that was when I left my last job! Odd feeling for disconnecting from a website, right? I thought it was a bit over the top, myself. 

I had heard that FB earned over a billion dollars in profits last year and paid next to nothing in taxes. I can't support an organization like that. I also know that I felt it was getting too much. I care what people think - I'm a communicator, after all is said and done - and watching people fight online made me feel uncomfortable and upset. I was starting to get mad when I got on FB. Irritated at the government, at people, and irritated at myself that I was even checking it at all.

Who's running this show? Me or the goddamn computer?!? Me, that's who. My only regret is that I joined at all and now I can't delete my account. FB Whores.

There was this thing I read that said "We have access to unlimited information, for free, at our fingertips, and we use the internet to look at videos of cats and argue with strangers". Whoo boy. Ain't that the truth.

I am not condemning any other person who is on FB and enjoys it. I say this all the time - to each his or her own. There's room for all of us to have our preferences. I just know that for all my bluster, FB hurts my sensibilities, and I can't have that. Plus - I noticed more people liking my page, but what I actually want is people reading and enjoying the community of the BLOG, not the blasted FB page. Why do I want to make them more money? I do this online stuff for fun and to meet awesome people (like everyone who visits me here - you guys are the best) not be a slave to a corporate website that's pushing their advertising down my throat at every turn.

So - there's my rant about FB. Sorry you had to sit through that. Here's a picture of nice spring things to make you feel better!

Peas by Presidents Day!

Little Daffodils courtesy of the GM. Absolutely Lovely.

So you'll find me hunkered here on Blogger for the foreseeable future. I got some serious things done this weekend, including culling my first batch of rabbits, "creating" my raised lettuce bed, and planning for beans (I needed to get creative with the vertical space as I'm growing shelling beans this year.)

Take care, everyone!