Facebook Etiquette

I have a love - hate relationship with Facebook. This pretty much means that I love it and I hate that it has turned me into a first-class stalker. Don't sit there and gape at the screen thinking, "Oh my goodness!" You all know that you love a little silent Facebook stalkin' too. I know I am not the only one.

Now, while I do indeed love knowing what is happening in all of my FB friends' lives, there are some things that are just better left off of your status or on a comment. Really, people. Just because it's the internet doesn't mean you should forget your raisin'!

Here are some tips:

1. Boring statuses. Okay...I admit that I have put up a boring status or two - especially in my early FB days, but really...some people only put up "doing homework" or "getting dressed" or even "goodnight fb!" I don't care. Honestly. Tell me something interesting. Elaborate. How about, "... is doing homework for geology. Anyone know anything about rocks?" I could see this turning into an intersting status, where random people will put random - maybe even funny - knowledge about rocks. (I'm easily amused, people. Humor me.) Or you could say, "... is getting dressed while my dog stares at me. What do you think he's thinking?" Again, this has potential to be hilarious. So, if you are doing something boring, at least liven it up a little so that I can get a laugh or two out of it.
   
2. TMI statuses. These seriously irk me. I do not care if you need some Midol or a heating pad. I do not need to keep up with your menstrual cycles. I don't care if you are running late to get your monthly birth control shot. I also don't care if you had a "satisfactory" poop. (It's happened, people!) Really...not necessary. Oh, let's not forget the "awesome sex," "good lovin'," or statuses that involve talk of certain, um, positions. Stop. Just don't do it.
3. Manners. Let's say it's your birthday or your anniversary and you decide to put that up as your status. When people leave you messages saying Happy whatever, please say "Thank you!" Even if it's a status that says "Thanks for the ___ wishes." Same for photos. If someone compliments your photo, please thank them. It's just nice to do.
4. Photos. Oh, boy. These can get out of hand. I want to see pictures of you, your family, and your friends. However, I do not want to see pictures of you drunk or doing something inappropriate. (Well, I do, but e-mail them to me...don't post them for hundreds of FB friends to see.) Go out and have yourself a good ol' time, but save the pictures for yourself. And if you were the person with the camera at the party, please consider people's wishes as you post your pictures - some may not want everyone seeing them lettin' the good times roll. (A teacher actually got fired from a school because she had alcohol in her hand in a picture on FB! I don't agree with that at all - if you are of age you should not be fired from your job for having a drink as long as you were not working or letting it affect your performance - but it happened and says a lot of how others are thinking of your documented shenanigans. There is a little more to this teacher's story than that, but the picture sparked it - just follow the link for what I thought was an interesting read.) I am really starting to become a believer in having people tag themselves in photos if they want to. Oh, and let's not forget...if you have recently given birth, please do not put up pictures of everything. Just some nice, sweet newborn pictures will do.
   
5. Oops...back to statuses real quick. Ranting statuses. Oh man. I seriously don't like it when people completely nut up on their statuses. I know we all get mad sometimes, but please just vent to your spouse or your parents or your best friend. It may not happen right away, but you will regret putting up your vent for hundreds of friends to see. Find another outlet for your anger.

My best friend and I have had many conversations on this topic, and have even considered writing a book on all the rules that we think folks should follow while using this addictive website that fills most of our free time.

I know that there will be more thoughts on FB as my blog continues, but this will be it for now. If we don't agree on something I've written as far as FB Etiquette goes, that is okay...I don't expect everyone to agree with my thoughts - except you, BFF. haha!

Don't feel so bad about your silent FB stalkin', friends...if people didn't want the details of their lives playing out on a social networking website, then they wouldn't have a FB profile in the first place. I'm just sayin'...