Yesterday's massive Facebook outage got me. as it did so many others. Repeated attempts to log in, only to be told it was the wrong password and then, when I tried to make a new password, to be told an error occurred--frustrating to say the least. I quit trying, as I had housework to do.
So. while dealing with dishes and laundry and dusting and such, I had time to think. How important is FB to me anyway?
I joined, at the behest of my publisher, years ago. But now that I don't have a new or recent book to push, why stay?
Well, for one thing, I have a number of FB friends that I would miss hearing from. Some I've never met in person but they are important to me. For another, I get a fair amount of news and information of local interest. And there's always someone to answer questions about local matters. Plus, it's a great resource if a dog goes missing. Not to mention all the pretty pictures of places I'll never go.
Ever since Covid, I've gotten quite used to socializing online, rather than in person. Even without the risk of Covid, online is easier, what with my increasing deafness and limited mobility.
Still, (are you listening, Zuckerberg?) if suddenly FB became a pay-to-play site, I'd quit. I figure all the ads that FB shows me are keeping Mr. Z in running shoes and yachts.
This blog--also begun at the behest of my publisher--will probably continue for the foreseeable future. I was always rubbish at keeping a journal, but the blog has become a habit--and a handy way of looking up what was going on in my life on a particular date.
If at some time in the future you can't find me on FB, look for my blog. The blog abides.
7 comments:
I had a similar experience with FB, which our clan tends to use a lot for messaging. You and I blog for similar reasons, at least partly.
FB is screwed up again this morning. At least this time we know it's not "just me" and we can wait it out.
Like you, Vicki, I joined FB a long time ago because I was told that I had to. I joined Twitter for the same reason, then never used it because I found it intimidating. I prefer FB's options for restricting exchanges to just people I want to hear from. My FB friends have been a source of strength during a terrible ongoing health crisis. As a writer who has attended conferences all over the country, I know a staggering number of mystery writers personally, and I feel that FB has further those friendships. I enjoy reading about what everybody is up to. As you say, it's a way to socialize without being exposed to infection. If I had to pay for it, I would probably leave, but for now it has value to me, and I'll stick around.
Please don't ever stop writing your blog! Facebook is nice, but your blog is wonderful. It's one of my favorite daily things to read. I love your pictures, book recommendations, and watching Josie grow up. I'm even trying my own Family/Friend "Cork" Hunt this year, inspired by your Easter hunts.
Thank you, Misty, for the kind words!
Facebook is my sole means of having a social life at the moment. If it leaves, or goes behind a paywall, I'll have no one to chat with except Alexa, and she's not that great a conversationalist. Luckily, I didn't check in during the great outage and missed it altogether.
Twitter was not a good venue for social life, I thought. It was like a huge cocktail party where you knew almost no one, most everyone was drunk (too many belligerently so), and there was too much noise to hear yourself think, let alone have a pleasant conversation. But it was, in its true glory days, a magnificent news ticker for fast-breaking stories -- you just had to know how to use it. I shall never forgive Elon Musk for the ruin he made of it.
That said, what I'd really miss is your blog, Vicki. I check it every day, and would miss it sorely if you quit.
I think I signed up for Twitter but never got on there. And thank you, Mario, for being such a faithful follower of my ramblings.
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