The great thing about Facebook is there aren't too many rules. We can all post what we want and not post things we don't want. Each of us can set our own guidelines even if the choice is "I have no guidelines". Personally, I made a conscious choice about a few things I don't post on Facebook or any other social media.
Birthday messages
It's no secret I am not a big birthday celebrator. I stopped caring about my special day when I was a teenager. It has nothing to do with my age, which I will leave at "almost AARP eligible." I just don't care and haven't for decades.
Perhaps it's that attitude that carries over to my birthday greetings on Facebook, or lack there of. Or maybe it's because I fear forgetting someone and that will offend them. "But she wished happy birthday to that mutual friend and not to me, she must hate me." Oy! I don't have time for that drama.
Blanket rule - no birthday greetings. Except my nephews and nieces, when I remember. And I don't even type those messages anymore. I hand the phone to J and tell him to say Happy Birthday to his cousin. Then, I have to fight to get my phone back after he puts in all of the emoticons and stickers.
Just in case your special day might be ruined by my failure to type a ubiquitous "Happy Birthday" on your wall, this is for you:
Rants about today's youth
I am pretty sure when Adam and Eve bit into the apple, God lamented "What's the matter with kids today?" Paul Lynde just added the music. I read it on the Internet somewhere so it must be true....
Adults have been complaining about the youth of their day since the dawn of time. And yet humans are still here. As a whole, kids today aren't more lazy, rude, ignorant, disrespectful, etc. than my generation. Life is different for them, not easier or harder. Just different. They need to have a different skill set than I did. They will adapt. And then they will probably complain about their kids...
A new profile picture for the latest cause du jour
Millions of people changed their profile picture in support of France after the attacks there. But how many people changed them a short while later when something similar happened in San Bernardino, CA? Or how about in Iraq? How long are you supposed to keep it up, a day a week, until the next "let's all change our profile picture" event?
My political views
My vote, my business. Yes, I do my research and vote for what I think is best. I just don't see the need to broadcast my views.
About the superiority of my religion or denigrate any other
I have friends that are Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Baptist, Episcopalian, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian of other denominations or no denomination, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindi, Agnostic, Atheist and probably another 50 other designations that I can't think of at the moment.
I am Catholic and will occasionally make remarks on my page that only Catholics will understand. It's a rare thing. I am not trying to convert anyone. I will never tell someone their faith tradition or practices are wrong. I have blocked more than one friend that does. My newsfeed, my choice.
Hyperbolic odes to my husband or child
But, if my husband were more like Ryan Gosling, I might...
My husband refuses to have anything to do with Facebook. I won't let my 8 year old use my account. If I have to post a gushing public tribute to them to let the rest of the world know how much they mean to me then I might be doing it wrong.
Copy and Paste
There are five Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in a 31 day month every 6 years. And the Chinese use a different calendar anyway. Copying and pasting a Facebook status will not improve your feng shui and bring you prosperity. Fact check on Aisle 3!
It's my fault there are no more unicorns. Sorry, not sorry.
[Tweet "Seven Things I Don't Post on Facebook. I hope you aren't offended. #socialmedia #sorrynotsorry"]
My timeline, my choice not to post. I am not judging anyone that does post these things. I hope you aren't offended that I don't. And if you are, feel free to unfriend me, I promise not to check and get upset. I have better things to do.
How about you, do you have your own set of social media rules? Are there things you don't post on Facebook or other social media? I'd love to know.
Save
Sarah Eliza @ devastateboredom says
Ahhhh the hyperbolic odes... those drive me bananas! ;P Write it in a greeting card and hand it to the proper recipient already hahaha.
You're hilarious! A little sad I featured your garden post just last week because otherwise I would have been featuring this one for sure. ;P
Audrey says
My teeth hurt reading those sometimes because they are just too sweet! My guys wouldn't appreciate me doing it even if I wanted to.
Linda Hobden says
I totally agree - I tend to avoid posting anything on FB religious, political, paste & share - and on my FB page I like to stick as much as possible to topics relevant to my blog eg shoes/fashion/health/beauty/lifestyle ?
Audrey Humaciu says
I try to stay "on topic" with my FB pages too. A political post on a food site would be weird to me, and I don't think my subscribers would like it.
Jamie @ Medium Sized Family says
I definitely post Catholic things on FB, but more in a "this is who I am" way than a "I'm totally going to convert you now" way.
The funny thing is that usually there are very politically charged posts on my FB wall. But this year everyone either is mutually complaining or just really doesn't know what to say about this election. Which kind of cracks me up!
My main rule about FB is that I like a small friends list. If I wouldn't cross the aisle in the store to say "Hi" to you, I don't want to be your FB friend.
Audrey says
Unfortunately I have a huge family with divergent political views and many feel the need to pontificate, regularly.
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi) says
I've never really got into Facebook; I have a page for the blog and I use it to enter competitions, but that's about it. My other half uses it a lot though so he keeps me informed with all the status gossip. I go through phases with Tumblr - pug gifs and pretty pictures are more my scene! 🙂 #FridayFrivolity
Audrey says
I started on FB as a way to keep up with my new Mommy friends and I am on a lot with school groups and blogging groups, but it is cut back a lot until our election in November.
Donna Parker says
I feel like Facebook is an overblown high school reunion. 😉
Loved and shared.
Dropped by from #FridayFrivolity
Hope this weekend treats you kindly. 🙂
Audrey Humaciu says
I think I just need to stay away until the middle of November when the election is behind us.