Facebook, Revisited

Facebook®, Revisited
I’ve spent a lot of time cruising my Facebook® . I did figure out how to jump from Heading to Heading (tap the H key) ;and go from graphic to graphic (tap the G key); and how to leave a comment (tap “enter” when the leave a comment was high-lighted).
That’s when I became uneasy. To whom would my comment go to or by whom would it be read? I guess I’m too private a person to just send anything into the ether for everyone and anyone to read. Folks have told me that my message only goes to the recipient’s friends. Well, who are they? Do I also know them?
There is a “share” feature with each post. Maybe someone decides to share my post with their friends, which connects to their friend, and then, on to their friends…ad infinitum.
You could make up a list of specific friends and just post to them. I wondered why I never read posts from my adult children. I wasn’t on their private list. As a matter of fact, I invited my eldest son, who lives on the West coast, to be my “friend” and he declined, saying, I didn’t need to know what he was doing.
I enjoyed reading the posts in my box. It was fun to know this friend was traveling to pick up her family, cleaning out the barn to make room for her son-in-law’s boat, and news of her grandchildren. Another friend from high school is into equestrian issues and posted up-dates on shows and her new 2nd home in the mountains. Another high school buddy posted the progress of his dog Wheezy having 9 puppies and following their progress until all of them were adopted. A former science teacher posted interesting news items that could be linked on to read the whole article.
Most of the posts were “…has added 42 photos to their album” or “…has commented on her own album” or “…likes so-and-so’s status”.
The photos were the most frustrating. Usually, if there was a description of the pictures, it was very cryptic: Labor Day picnic, Where Am I?, clouds, sunset, baby fix. These comments did not provide useful information, so I’d click on “read all comments”.
Again, the comments were rather cryptic: Wow, Go Girl, I’ll bring the wine tonight”.
Then, several friends (I only knew one of them.) began to confuse texting on her phone with commenting on Facebook®.
Sometimes I could get the gist of the thread, but not enough to feel like I were in a conversation. I began to feel like a voyeur.
When Hurricane Irene hit PA, news of someone’s missing 22 horses was very quickly disseminated. I doubt the horses panic led them as far north as I am from the situation, but when the news needed to be out there in a hurry, the social networks were in hot pursuit. Except, of course, for those whose power was out and their computers down.
The long and short of it is that I’ve suspended my Facebook® account. I have other things I’d like to do with my time. I’d prefer to e-mail one person at a time and make it a meaningful missive. I had a lot of Facebook® friends when I disengaged and I hope my true friends will understand by e-mailing me.