I have removed myself from the legions of Facebook members. Why?

Because all I was getting in my inbox were adverts for social games that I had no interest in, inane chain mail that reinforced my theory that Facebook removes individuality and independent thought and replaces it with “me too” group think, the blatant and bold faced disregard for an individuals privacy over and over again, and lack of decent post publishing audience control.

Updates from people that I care about that actually mean anything were very few and far between. Friends and family post pictures with what they are up to, but even that is dwindling to a trickle lately. I am just as guilty as they all are though. A general distaste for sharing anything there. I would rather have my thoughts on my own website. It always felt like I was writing for other people when I posted things on FB. I was never doing it for the sake of doing it. That feeling of obligation gave me just enough apprehension to posting to keep me from doing it.

Another thing is that I was always expecting everyone on my list to respond to me, if they had any interest or not. I took the time and effort to write on Facebook, so obviously everyone on my list should praise my efforts! It is an unreasonable expectation I know, but it was still there, and I couldn’t deny it.

I was never sharing anything for the the sake of sharing it. I was always updating my wall with the expectation of acclaim from the people that may or may not actually care. I was never taking pride in what I shared because I didn’t do it for myself. Just a self serving and selfish desire to have every little word I wrote and shitty picture I shared to earn praise from people that may or may not be honest in the first place.

I am not trying to say that the nice things people posted on my wall aren’t appreciated though. Just the dishonest source of my motivation that preceded each post. Tyler would say that shared social obligation is mutual masturbation, and that is what it started to feel like. You and everyone you know all being locked in the same room, passing wind at the same time, and claiming it smells like fresh baked cookies.

Maybe I am being too cynical. maybe