What I’ve learned from Facebook, part deux

I enjoy social media.  Twitter, Facebook, Youtube – I’m there.  But it seems most many people are unaware of how bad they make themselves look whilst using it.  Because it’s where I spend the the majority of my social media fun time, I’m focusing on Facebook.

Facebook faux pas, to be specific.

I believe that a big part of the problem here is that social media attracts many young and immature people, who have no concept of how far-reaching and long-lasting this will be.  I’m afraid they will learn the hard way.  But just in case anyone is paying attention, here is what I would add to the numerous lists of Facebook don’ts.

-Don’t complain.  Good grief, don’t complain.  This is actually a good policy for every thing and every time in your life – trust me, you’ll be happier for it.  But Facebook specific-ly – it’s free, people.  Free. When you complain about the changes and the errors and the lack of privacy, you reveal yourself to be a petty, spoiled, entitled brat.  It’s free.  Take it or leave it, but stop complaining.

-Don’t whine, either. I tell my primary-aged daughters that no one wants to be friends with a whiner, and I tell them this for one reason.  Because it’s true. Even as adults.  No one wants to be friends with a whiner.  Knock it off. I can’t believe how many adults post nothing but whines about their life. Boo-hoo. Suck it up and deal, people.  We were never promised a rose garden.

-If you are going to comment on someone else’s stupidity, for goodness’ sake, please proofread yourself.  Just this week I’ve seen people complain about the ‘mooron’ in front of them or the ‘dumbness employees’ known to man.  Really? Really?

-Beating a dead horse here, I know, but it’s/its/there/their/they’re/your/you’re – All. Different. As in, not the same.  Distinctly different usage.  Please research.  I promise this information will serve you well in life.  And don’t try to cop out and use ‘ur’.  Doesn’t fly, and possibly makes you look even worse.

-Watch what you ‘like’.  For one thing, if you ‘like’ every little thing that makes you chuckle, you annoy all of your friends by cluttering up their feed with your fluff.  You also make yourself look a bit, well, brain-light. [That's nice-speak for shallow and/or stupid] Also, ‘liking’ something funny now could come back to bite you in the rear later.  I guarantee you that one day the media vetting of politicians will include their youthful indiscretions on Facebook.

-Games. Oh, the games. Do us all a favor, and don’t allow your games to post to your wall.  We will all appreciate not having to hide the annoying applications one by one, and you will look less… like you have entirely too much time on your hands because you are playing two dozen internet games daily.

-Ditto the gift applications.  I don’t need a virtual teddy bear or a cartoon mojito or a pretend pillow fight.  But thanks so much for the thought.

-Another annoying new game trend I’ve noticed – sidestepping my block.  I’ve hidden your dumb games because I didn’t want to see them, and you know that.  So you seem to have started using your status updates to prattle on about your games.  I’m reading along, feeling rather alarmed about the apparent bloodshed, when I realize that this is all about Mafia Wars.  Oh. My. Please stop. Please, just stop.

-You’ve heard it said before, but watch what pictures you post.  Those, too, can (and will) come back to kick you later. Keep it G.  And kids, watch an episode of ‘To Catch a Predator’ one day, and pay attention. [Also worth noting-this may be the only time you will catch me recommending that anyone ever watch MSNBC, for any reason]

-Don’t let Facebook become your reality.  It’s a big, beautiful world out there.  Don’t spend your life in front of a screen, computer or otherwise.  Social media is not the same as real-life social encounter.  Go outside.  Live.  And don’t Twitter about it the whole time, either.  Step away from the Blackberry or the [gag] iphone and just live.  Pretend you’re living in the 80′s ancient times when such technology didn’t even exist.

That’s all I’ve got for now.  What have you learned from Facebook?

Pop over to From Inmates to Playdates to link up yourself, or read what others have learned.