But there's one thing I'm quite certain I'll be doing soon: quit Facebook.
Life before Facebook was okay. Better, in fact, now that I've taken time out to ponder on things that really matter (like most people do, in anticipation of the world's impending end).
There was a time when quitting FB was like tantamount to regressing to the Stone Age, or like confirming I am the founder of "Geek Civilization." But then I figured there are people who get on with their lives better off without such new age distractions as FB, Twitter, My Space, etc.
Maybe I'm a geek, after all. Hyper-introverted, uber-intrapersonal semi-hermetic nerd. But I'd like to think I'm just more cautious, more circumspect, more discerning as I grow older. After all, I'm not getting any younger. I'm also a very private person, which makes me think that joining FB is totally against my grain, totally uncharacteristic of me.
So, after weighing the pro's and con's, there are three very compelling reasons why I should quit FB:
One, FB has been luring me into total self-disclosure: my personal photos, personal profile, whereabouts, etc. -- things I shouldn't be sharing with the world, because this is how I become an unwitting victim of identity thieves, hackers, swindlers, stalkers, etc.
Two, FB has been turning me into an egocentric, narcissistic, self-important vermin who constantly (or secretly) seek other people's approval by posting my best-taken photos and anticipating flattering comments. I'm turning myself into a vacuous teenager at 35!
Three, FB is turning me into a "nosy neighbor," tempting me to sneak a peek into other people's business, go through other people's photos (which they post for public viewing, anyway), and post approving comments to feed other people's bloating (or already bloated) egos.
I recently unearthed something I wrote years ago. It's called "My Principles and Philosophy." All the above-enumerated effects of FB on me go against all of my principles, I found out. I couldn't help thinking how many times I betrayed my self.
I also figured that most of my role models weren't FB junkies. JC, Gandhi, Confucius, and the Buddha weren't on FB, not because there was no FB yet, but because there was no ego to inflate. Their followers would never have considered creating a fan page for them, knowing it's a futile pursuit.
People subscribe to FB for many different reasons and I respect them. But as for me, I have grown tired of this social networking habit. I have more important things to attend to and my 18-hour work schedule just ain't enough.
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