Thursday 13 March 2014

Goodbye Facebook

I've had Facebook since High school and my usage of it hasn't varied much since then. It's been hard to keep in touch with certain people so it has that use, but the main purpose that I had for Facebook was that it served as an online scrapbook, a collection of stupid, silly, and bizarre images that I've found online plastered all over the place.

I watched my "Facebook Look Back Video" to confirm this, almost a decade's worth of nonsensical pictures and news posts.

Seriously, who else would share something like this?

But the other day as I was scrolling through to see what everyone else was up to I stumbled across a picture. Or rather, a series of pictures.

Of my ex, Theresa and her current boyfriend.

I should be over her, I shouldn't care what she's up to, or who's she's seeing. I should be happy for her, and they certainly looked so happy together. Meanwhile I'm in my room, in front of my computer still single, slightly bitter, and lonely almost a year and a half since our breakup. She on the other hand is about to celebrate her one year anniversary with this guy.

But it wasn't just the pictures that I saw, there were comments too. Comments made by our mutual "friends" who took her side after our breakup and encouraged her to find someone new so quickly. "You two are so cute together!" they coo and gush.

I need new friends.

I want to say that I wasn't bothered. That I shrugged my shoulders and went on to whatever it was I was doing. But I didn't. I just sat there in my chair, not upset or angry, instead I was just kind of numb. I stared and started thinking.

I began to question why I even still kept my Facebook account. It was primarily used to communicate with Theresa and our mutual circle of "friends". But we've drifted apart either due to being busy (e.g. Theresa), or because I've made an effort to shun you (e.g. everyone else).

The rest of my friends that I actually want to talk to have other means of contacting me should they find the need. Honestly, Facebook is a major distraction and I would probably be better off without it. The world can use a break from my antics, and I need a break from them.

So I disabled my Facebook account, for better or for worse.


My reasoning may sound a bit odd, or silly, but it was enough for me. A bit of a tipping point really. Will I ever go back? Maybe. Maybe if I get super buff I'll get vain as well, post a few pictures. Or if I win the lottery, or if I become the next Youtube sensation. What I'm trying to get at is that I'm going to need a pretty big reason to rejoin Facebook.

It was pretty funny actually right before I clicked "Disable Account". Facebook makes the effort of displaying pictures of your friends who are "Going to miss you!". And right at the end of the list was a photo of Theresa.

And I started to laugh. No she won't.

No she won't.

39 comments:

  1. I didn't know Facebook did that if you tried to leave. Little did they know that played right into your hands. If it wasn't for the fact I have friends I talk to on there, and can only talk to on there, I would have deleted my Facebook account quite a while ago. Fortunately nothing like this has ever happened to me. Bounce back from it, buff the heck up, and just move on. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life so good for you for getting rid of it. Get a Myspace account or something to replace it. You can scrap book all you want, and never have to deal with another human being.

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  2. I keep mine to use to sign up for stuff to enter contests and such, like "like" this, that is it, deleted every single thing off of it, hunk of junk anyway

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  3. I don't think the reasoning sounds odd at all. Why stay on there if you're going to punish yourself by looking at those pictures. I disabled mine last month and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.

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  4. Ah, yes. I recommend unfriending exes, or else it's just too easy to stalk and feel crappy about it. If you decide to reactivate, just do that!

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  5. Chill dude.
    And for how long would you stay away from Facebook. Maybe till the numbness goes away.

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  6. I've disabled my account a time or two, but generally, I just de-friend the person I don't want to see.

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  7. Ah, the pros and cons of Facebook.My son (grown now) had a serious girl in H.S. and she went to college while he was starting his senior year. He visited her once, and met the young man who replaced him rather quickly. The Facebook pictures killed him. I told him to quit looking, but you know..when you've got that attachment to someone it's hard to let go sometimes.

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  8. I also got rid of facebook because of this kinda thing... not exactly the same, but similar. Anyway, I have discovered, time is best spent on improving oneself, rather than investing it in a million relationships. Your friends can leave you anytime they want... but your stuck with yourself forever. Welp. That's my 2 cents anyway.

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  9. didn't know they did the "Friends who will miss you" part

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  10. Good job on leaving that hell-hole. I never even started and already know how shit a place it can be. And that's just Facebook, people jerking each other off over "oh so cute" "you look so nice" pictures and whatever. You'll find yourself feeling super duper free now that you've disabled your account. Enjoy!

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  11. Facebook tends to just suck time away anyway

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  12. If this were the first paragraphs of a book, I'd be really compelled to read it.

    The way you're going about all this is pretty normal. What's not normal is how honest you are about it. You'll get a reason for Facebook, everyone does. Hope it serves you well while it's off, though.

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  13. I feel you in deactivating... whatever that can help you move on is understandable.

    What's with the "drill cat"? I hate that pic :(

    By the way, I miss visiting here. I got too caught up at work and did not have enough time for blog hopping. I hope I can do back reading soon.

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  14. Chill! You can come back anytime you want. :)

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  15. Facebook sucks. I've never done it and never will.

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    Replies
    1. Then you'll LIKE (press that button) the post I'm writing right now. Damian... where are you?

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  16. Every time I start to complain about Facebook as a silly waste of time (it is that quite a bit), I remember how I found out how a friend of mine from back home lost his mother. Then, I realize that it does serve a good use sometime. On the other hand, pictures of an old girlfriend with comments....? Yeesh, I couldn't handle that.

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  17. I hate that Facebook is a necessary evil. I've tried deactivating it, but it's a good medium to be in contact with people, so I always come back. As some of the others have mentioned, you should just unfriend her. Save the hassle of seeing all the hurtful crap. Plus, I need you to be my Facebook friend so I can send you a thousand Farmville requests until you block me out of anger.

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  18. My kids are your age, and my sons rarely are on facebook. They've moved on, too.
    PS...if you found some way to add protein to my carmelitas they'd sure be a yummy bar. Not healthy by any means, but you could use the calories, too.

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  19. Lol. Although I am new to Facebook. I have a friend who recently went back and it was funny to see her changes from then and now. After that she took down her account and re-started herself as a new person. I am sure when you go back as an adult, it will be a much different experience.

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  20. Tough pill to swallow but I think your decision is good if you are not using it much. Yeah that Facebook Look Back Video was interesting indeed for me too...but I use my account a lot.

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  21. Facebook is such a time suck... I think you made the right decision. No need to keep those unnecessary reminders around.

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  22. I hardly use Facebook. Only reason I have an account is for my mom and relatives lol. I guess I use it for friends occasionally but Reddit, Youtube, etc are my networks of choice.

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  23. I use Facebook for my mom and relatives mostly. Every full moon I message a friend I suppose but my networks of choice are Reddit, Youtube, etc.

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  24. We missed your writing too. You have a unique style.

    Face book can be like " Christmas letter " used to be in my generation. All braggy and projecting much happier image of one's family than it actually is. Some people are happy to share their experiences of life and that is fine. It certainly isn't right on the part of your mutual friends to take sides.
    One day you will find some one who will see you for who you are. Then if you choose to, you can open an other account with Face book and let people see that you are successful too.

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  25. Facebook sucks. I've never done it and never will. One year already? Pfffffft forget about those so-called mutual friends. There's no such thing and who needs facebook. Superfacial nonsense. It should've been called, "PR yourself".

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  26. The world looks perfectly fine without facebook.

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  27. I don't think it's odd or silly. I hate facebook. But I have a ton of friends and relatives in other countries, and calling and texting them just got too expensive. So I guess I have a sort of love-hate relationship with facebook...

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  28. I love my Facebook, but if you don't want to use it anymore you're probably right to disable it :) It must be annoying to keep seeing pictures of your ex everywhere: I would probably do the same if I were you!

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  29. It's awfully quiet.... Are you okay?

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  30. P.S. Come and find your show at my show today!

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  31. No facebook yet for me and it is ok :)
    Relax :)

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  32. Facebook is such a distraction..
    Glad that you disabled it but the reason was so sad..

    Nevertheless, you surely deserve a better person :)

    And why u are not writing anymore?? come back...hope all is well

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  33. I think facebook is just a place where people with huge egos post selfies that other people with smaller egos, who want to be friends with the people with huge egos, like and comment stuff like 'omg sooo cuteee'.

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  34. I hope the fact that you haven't posted anything on this blog for 2 months means that you are out in the real world finding a new girlfriend! Wishing you all the best!

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