I think it’s time to start writing again because I am pretty darn sure that what I have been doing on at FB isn’t writing no matter what I told myself – like, I can get ideas there and it’s creative in a way and I don’t get to see a lot of my friends so this is a fun way to stay in touch- while I work on my writing.
But I knew that was baloney the entire time.
So why have I spent so much time over there when the cost has been so high for me? I don’t have a cell phone so I’m not connected to the collective, I don’t have anything sassy or witty to say but I must admit I like posting pictures because that is fun and some of the quips on them are funny.
ONLY
I don’t write those quips and I don’t take the pictures and the writer in me stands over my shoulder when I spend time on FB telling someone else’s story and she says:
“Anita Marie…what the Hell? Who wrote this and why are you putting their stuff out there? Oh yeah. I know why because a picture with a three word quip coming out of the mouth of a monkey riding backwards on a tricycle is Art and it must live forever and your purpose in life now is to make that happen no matter what the cost.”
And the truth is that is exactly what I have been doing.
Every day.
However, I am left every single time I have goofed off on FB, with the certainty that if we were REQUIRED to go on line and tell everyone what we thought, where we are going, who we are talking to, what we ate for dinner, where we shop, sat next to at the movies, people would be freaking out all over the place.
But we- and I am including myself in that mix in a big way -are good little sheep and no matter how we see ourselves at the end of the day- it feels to me as if someone is tugging on our leash and we are obediently responding to that gesture.
We are listening ,we are telling the same stories in the same voice
together.
Irregular Bones 
Mmm, your post certainly gives me food for thought. Are we as humans becoming sheep/ Are we allowing our own individual creativity fall by the wayside while we babble on about the non-consequentional this and that. I’m not saying that FB doesn’t have its place, but for those of us whose creativity is bursting to break free, is it really where we want to be? Despite the fact that I am taking my first unsteady steps into the halls of FB, I’m not at all sure it’s where I want to be. Thank you for your well written post.
Vi
I have had very similar thoughts myself – always excusing my faffing about on fb as okay because it is relaxing and I pass on ‘important’ stuff sometimes – but essentially I know I am short-changing only me by stealing my own time and not following my creative thoughts/urges etc. Is it because I am part of the herd? Is it because someone else is “tugging on my leash”? Frankly I don’t know but I have been thinking a lot about it as have others I know. Self-discipline starts and ends with me. I make the choices to mess around on fb – yes it is good to keep in touch with friends far away – well, it is an easy way, I can click a button, post a few words whereas I used to spend time writing newsy and daft emails but they were my own words. Much to think on – Will I change my fb habits? I don’t know ! Excellent post 🙂
See, I knew there was a reason I stayed away from FB, lol
I agree, Anita. The problem arises, I believe, not in FB itself, any more than in TV, or web surfing, etc. but in how MUCH time we devote to it. There is an addictive quality to all of the above and time is precious, esp. when you get older (I just turned 69) and realize this “life” isn’t going to last forever. I skim through my FB page quickly and try not to get sidetracked into lengthy posts or article links, unless I feel they’re important. I do spend time in a private group called Pan de Vida. Two online people, who are precious to me, are both strong Christians and we are a daily support for one another, searching more for wisdom than entertainment.
You make a good point there Anita. The writer in me has been starved, either because I’ve been too busy and therefore too tired, or too stressed and uninspired to write. When I *have* blogged it’s mostly been a meme or pictures from FB or some short and easy that doesn’t require stringing a lot of paragraphs together. I would love to get back “into the groove” of writing my own thoughts and ideas.
I’m posting back here again for exactly the same reasons. Got to climb out of that hole… Sides are super slippery there.