MY TWO CENTS WORTH ON FACEBOOK

I admit I am far from being techie, but I relish social networking. I find nothing wrong in joining social networking sites for as long as it is used for a good cause and within the bounds of decency.

Of all the social media accounts, I believe Facebook and Twitter have the most number of subscribers. I subscribe to Facebook since there is an option to accept or reject people who want to be friends with you, but not on Twitter where anyone is free to follow and make comments. Of course you can always block them should they cross the line.

Facebook is a great venue for finding long lost friends. I actually have rekindled bonds with friends I haven't seen or heard from in ages. It keeps us connected through status updates, photos and private messages. It also serves as a great tool in coordinating reunions (be it office or otherwise), conveying the sad news of someone's demise, or simply getting a message across. Prayer requests and fund raising for humanitarian reasons are almost always acted upon, thanks to prayer warriors and good samaritans.

Most of the time, I share inspirational quotes/messages with the hope that they serve as reminders for people to reinforce their faith in God.

Every now and then, I also share articles from my blog.

I  upload pictures too, but mostly on office related events for the benefit of colleagues residing abroad. It keeps them abreast of our group's activities here.

For most people, Facebook has become an arena where activities are chronicled such as: what they are doing at the moment, where and what they had for lunch or dinner, or even uploading pictures of newly acquired designer bags for whatever purpose it might be. Add to these the never ending invitation for all sorts of applications and games. It somehow provides an interesting and comic relief of sorts. If it makes them happy, why not?

What I find disturbing though is when people tend to misuse, much more abuse, these networking sites. Amidst all the circus of posts prevalent on Facebook, what I find really unappropriate and unethical for that matter, is when the status reflects unsavory comments about other people. We sometimes come across a criss cross of banters or inuendos being hurled against one who obviously is not in good terms with the other. Some even go to the extent of posting the end of a relationship, including the reason behind it. These things are better kept to oneself, and as a rule of thumb, dirty linen should never be washed in public. Furthermore, always be guided by the dictum that if you can't say anything nice about anyone, then refrain from saying anything at all. Besides, who would care anyway? It is the least of their (Facebook friends) concern. It would be wise to stay away from these networking sites when you are vulnerable or at odds with someone.

In addition, personal matters should be relayed thru a private message instead of on a friend's Wall, unless you want everyone to be privy to your conversations. 

Another point of concern is when friends post birthday greetings on one's Wall and the celebrator issues just a solitary status to acknowedge, e.g. "Thank you to everyone who greeted me on my birthday". I find it a bit impersonal and discomforting. It is more prudent to acknowledge the greetings individually even though you have to type "Thank You......." maybe 500 times or more. The rationale behind it is, if your friends took the effort to greet you, couldn't you at least return the favor by thanking them personally too, regardless of how tedious the task may be? After all, it happens only once a year. Always bear in mind that they have a choice whether to greet you or not, and the mere fact that they chose to do so, means you are precious to them. It therefore merits a sense of gratitude somehow, in a personal way. Of course most people might find it inconvenient, not to mention tiresome, but the trade off is worth it, believe me. I take my hat off to those who actually acknowledge every greeting, but sadly only a handful do so.

The same principle should likewise apply to those who check "Like" on posts made because it means they appreciate what you posted and a simple "Thanks" wouldn't hurt. Besides, isn't it a wonderful feeling to receive a thank you note personally addressed to you? It somehow makes you feel special even for just a moment. Never get tired of expressing your gratitude towards people because a simple "Thank You" goes a long way. 

At the end of the day however, all of these only boil down to one thing. As in everything else, it is  a matter of choice and you have the prerogative to post what you want, but wouldn't it be better if you try to be a little discreet and more considerate of people's feelings? It is of utmost importance to always value and show our respect for others.

After all, what you post is a reflection of your character.