Just last week on Facebook I had a rant. Surprising, isn’t
it?
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| Disapproving Linette disapproves |
I had just chosen to watch a video that a friend posted.
Curiosity killed the cat, and so on. It was a video of a prank gone badly wrong
that ended apparently with a girl’s death. I didn’t have the sound on, and
didn’t really examine this too closely. The images haunt me, real or not real.
Last summer, I blocked a friend from my Facebook because of
a photo he shared. It was titled something like “payback is hell” and allegedly
showed a terrorist with his head blown off.
I didn’t have to click on this photo nor did I have to click on a
different one showing a terrorist with gory trophies. The images cannot be
unseen.
I am an adult and am fully aware that all is not good in
this world of ours. I am not being Pollyanna, not wearing a blindfold. My Dad,
Father-in-law, and brother served in active duty army. I have friends coping
with battle-scarred spouses or family members. I saw 9/11 happen on that
beautiful clear blue day. I have friends and family who have been victims of
abuse, rape, and ignorance. I have lost friends to suicide and drunk driving
and drugs. My own little town, in the smallest county of our state, is rampant
with meth houses and heroin overdoses and more horrors than I thought possible.
So, what is my beef?
I don’t want to see these images. I don’t believe that
everyone should see these images. A friend says, ok then, don’t look. Well! That is a great idea! Only, it is on my
thing where I see everyone’s post, right next to the cute pet photos and new
baby photos. It is not something to click on and go to for the most part, it is
just RIGHT THERE. In color no less. Or someone clicks and shares something
without even reading it through, tagging me and voila! It is on MY wall.
My cousin says, “I am a victim of abuse, and your other
cousin and I were almost killed by our spouses. We are sharing information so
that no one else has to go through what we went through.” I am good with that.
I want abuse stopped. Child abuse, too, I want that stopped. Let’s get serious
on fighting drug abuse in our neighborhoods. With this information, let’s put
up help lines and solutions and not just replay the violence for someone (and
you know someone will) to get their jollies from!
If there is one thing that has been proven to me it is that
nothing ever goes away on the internet. How many years will we see that same
email, that same image of clouds, that same urban myth?
Way back in time, I remember my Grandmother saying “It’s on
the TV, it must be true.” There are less ways of validating things now, even in
the age of information, than there ever has been before. I had relied on
Snopes, but then someone pointed out to me that Snopes is just a man and a
woman, and how do you know that they aren’t biasing their reports?
It is kind of funny, in a way. I see these photos of real
things and people are screaming they are photoshopped, fraud. Then there is
something like a ghost or an angel or an alligator on the North Pole and
everyone is on board, how awesome! Here is real proof! The moon shots were not
real. But, Chupacabras are. You get my drift.
We human beings are a funny and perverse lot.
Ok, really, this is what is steaming me. Facebook is a
social network. There are people of all ages on Facebook. All ages. Are these
images appropriate for children to look at? Would you show your grandparent or
parent? I guess I am showing my age by being such a prude, but really, would
you?
I have the same beef with people talking loudly on their
cell phones. Somehow, they think that being on a cell phone in a public area
still is like being in a private phone booth. They are shouting out the results
of their lab that shows STDs or talking about how Billy smacked Sally so hard
that her eye popped out or other equally appropriate chatter. They wonder why
they get dirty looks.
I am also steamed that Facebook is a political platform.
Isn’t it bad enough that you can’t even get away from political adds at the
movies anymore? Or any adds for that matter. We have freedom of speech, but I
often feel like there isn’t much freedom when things are being force-fed to
you.
One more thing? Hackers. Hackers just really tick me off.
Are people so bored that this is a good thing to do with their time? Steal
someone’s face and name to spread your brand of filth? Come on, now. Will you
people just get a life already!
Relax! Take it easy. Breath deep, one two…
Ok. I guess the ultimate think I am angry about is courtesy.
Consideration. Think before you click share. Don’t believe everything you see.
Check it out, make sure it is true.
