Facebook on My Mind

You know how Facebook always asks that annoying question? You know the one: "What's on your mind?" Really? You really, honestly wanna know what's on my mind, Facebook (masters of the almighty cyber-verse)? Okay. You asked for it, you got it.

1) I don't really like Facebook. Sure, in many ways it's an entertaining electronic platform and a great way to be able to "network" and reach out to people (old acquaintances, distant relatives, former classmates, etc.), but it's also unfortunately often a terrible waste of time. I mean, I've spent literally years, day after day, 365 days a year, clicking "like" on everybody's pictures and shares, but most of the time, the vast majority of those people have mostly behaved like I only exist for their personal gratification.

Because sadly, to most Facebook "users," I'm just a "follower," a "top fan," a "group contributor," or even worse, a "customer." I may even be nothing more than a target for someone who has a specific political, religious or social agenda. Either way, if I happen to consent to go along with someone who suddenly deems me useful, that may pretty much just end up making me little more than a sycophantic nobody whose job is to sit eagerly in front of my computer, just waiting with bated breath to click my mouse, as indicated, often enough to send out yet another dopamine hit to some needy, addicted "social" media "content creator."

2) I've been on Facebook since way back in the early 2000s, but in all those years, most of the friends I've accumulated on here haven't even so much as bothered to reply to any of my personal messages most of the time. In fact, when I got married back in 2012, I sent a whole lot of people on my "friend" list electronic wedding invitations, but not a single one of those people even so much as sent me a simple reply. I don't even know if they even bothered to click on the link that would show them the electronic wedding invitation! I mean, I wasn't looking for a card or even a wedding gift, and I certainly didn't think that most of those individuals could attend the ceremony over here in South Korea, but... gosh... maybe a word or two of congratulations in a private message could have made a huge difference in my life. But I guess that's not how "social" media really works, is it?

3) So yeah, after all these years, and all these "friends" on a mostly meaningless electronic "friend list," I guess I just don't care anymore. So stay. Or go. Whatever! But for God's sake, please remember one thing: I don't exist to support your cause. No, I'm not sending a donation. No, I'm not clicking like on every one of your shares. Yes, I may very well like your page at your request, but then again, I might not. Likewise, I might "like and share" when I see what I think is genuinely good content, but on second thought, maybe I just plain won't. You see, believe it or not, as a human being, I am not just another name on an electronic list.

And there you have it. So should you stay or should you go now? I dunno. I honestly don't know. And I no longer really care. So just remember one thing: I am not here for you and you only. I do not exist to serve you. I'm not a sycophant. I'm not a disciple. I'm not a follower. I'm not even an especially political person in most cases. Again, I am not here for your personal gratification, entertainment, or to profess my undying allegiance to your sacred cause. Because as far as I've seen over the years, there's not a single person on Facebook (in politics, entertainment, etc.) that even comes close to being Jesus Christ, the Buddha, Mohammed, or who the heck ever!

And that goes for you holier-than-thou atheists, too! So whatever you do, just remember, I am a person. I am a human being. I am an individual. And if you are too, for God's sake, act like it. Interact with me, one on one, every now and then. You know, like a fellow traveler to the grave (afterlife, or whatever) that we must all eventually inhabit, and not just another Facebook faceless name on a list, a "social" media tool to be used when, how, and why you (or others) may in fact see fit at any particular moment on any given day.

And that, Facebook, is exactly what's on my mind. So "like it, love it, or take it around the corner, and dump it."