Facebook - the unhealthy relationship we ALL keep going.

Hello everyone.  As I sit here on a snowy Saturday night, watching two of my children try and beat each other in Call Of Duty, Black Ops II (which I don't like at all, but they do), I, as just about everyone does now, grabbed my laptop, or phone, or whatever was closest as absent mindedly jumped  onto Facebook.  I really didn't have any reason to, but when we all get bored, that's what we do.  So, instead of just posting aimless random nonsense, I asked what I should write about, and was told to write about "the idiocy of Facebook" which is ironically what I decided to write about.  

I am an avid Facebook user, as well as an avid Twitter user.  I also post photos to Instagram, post things to Foursquare and Get Glue, and write this thing from time to time.  Not quite sure how I got involved with doing all these things, but I do.  Tonight, I want to discuss Facebook and Twitter.

I joined Facebook originally as an alternative to MySpace, because it felt like that was being overrun by kids.  When I joined Facebook, it was specifically to keep in touch with people I went to high school with, and a few long distance family members.  I post status updates for a few reasons.  Making people laugh is one of them.  Making people think is another.  Sometimes, I do it to express my pride in things my kids or wife have done.  Occasionally, I link to articles I think are interesting, but for the most part, I just stick to the basics.

I am on Twitter to entertain myself for the completely stupid things people say.  Between the celebrities that spout off on things and the cyber-side of people I know that surprise me, I chuckle at Twitter more often than not.  I rarely tweet anything that isn't linked to something.  I don't have many followers, because I think my Twitter feed is pretty boring.

My rant tonight is on Facebook mostly, and the things that pop up on my "timeline".  I have hidden so many people on there due to recent events, be it the election, or the Newtown tragedy.  If it were easier to go through and "thin the herd" on my friends list, I would.  

I would NEVER deny anyone their opinion, or the right to express them, but with that being said, I also   won't subject myself to ridicule and scorn based on what I believe. I had opinions on who I wished to win the Presidential election, but I never expressed them for fear of verbal retribution.  I have seen people that say "if you voted for __________ you are stupid and should be killed."  Really????  I have my beliefs on the 2nd Amendment and guns, but I dare not express them publicly for fear of being labeled a "p***y" or "nutjob".  

Am I just being the grumpy old man, or does Facebook act just like the dead end relationship that you know you'd be better off without, but just can't cut loose?  If so, how do you handle it?  Ironically enough, I will be using FB to monitor responses to this.

Thanks for listening. You may now go back to pictures of Tard the angry, butt-ugly cat.