This evening, I had an epiphany. I again came to the understanding that I don’t need yet another corporate overlord.
So I quit Facebook. I’ve done it several times before. And this time may not last. But it felt right to just cut the cord. I have been reading too much about Facebook conducting research on its subscribers who failed to fully read and comprehend the terms of service, which permits Facebook to treat its subscribers as guinea pigs. And it just pissed me off.
Don’t get me wrong. I like what Facebook does for me. It keeps me connected to people with whom, otherwise, I would be unlikely to stay in touch. I like being able to stay connected with some media outlets and businesses that post on Facebook. I enjoy the interaction. But I am just sick and tired of Facebook and damn near every other business that uses and abuses its capacity to manipulate me. Pardon me, but screw them!
I’ve become dependent on Facebook. It’s an easy-to-use resource that feeds me information. I need a different diet. Maybe I’ll start using Twitter. Maybe I’ll refrain from anything but my blog. The people who want to know what I’m up to can find me here. And they can share their updates here. And they can start their own blogs and Twitter accounts and I can follow them there. But, for now, I won’t be following them on Facebook. I do hope I have just a little bit of discipline.
Larry, it’s not just the ads. It’s the fact that Facebook abuses its customers by making its terms of service so long and unwieldy that it hides the fact that we must agree to let Facebook use us as guinea pigs, experimental subjects, without our informed consent. I’ll be back, probably very soon, but I loathe the amorality of Facebook’s leadership.
There is good and bad in everything. Facebook is free. They bombard you with algorithmic advertising. Big deal. You can turn a blind eye, stay in touch, and share MUSIC!!! Like the Blind Faith song, Do What you Like. Or you could just come back and Do What I like!!!
I have been using Facebook less and less lately. Just too much chatter and overload. I don’t cut the cord, I just stop looking. I wish I posted more often on the blog. Maybe I’ll be inspired to post more than once a week. There’s plenty to say, but I like quiet too. Enjoy your Facebook respite.
Yep. My first clue that you had cut the cord yet again was when I tried to respond to our PM from yesterday and was told that I could not… Darn you and your ethics!!! 🙂 See you back on in a couple of months!!! 🙂
I understand, Joyce, but occasionally it makes sense to me to withdraw my support from organizations whose ethics reside in a dark, dirty pool in the basement. I realize tilting at windmills will do no good. It would take many millions of people to tilt at that windmill to have any impact…but I will tilt, nonetheless.
I read (and save) all of your blogs but will miss you on Facebook. My thought – if we cut ourselves off from everything we don’t like a portion of it can get mighty lonely in the long run. Sometimes we just have to bite the bullet, ignore what we dislike and go on with life. Does that make sense?