Farewell Facebook

I've done it.  I just deactivated Facebook.  And it almost feels like I've been handed an abundance of free time.  In all honesty, I spent an unhealthy amount of time on it, not doing much at all.  It upsets me that 'face-booking' has even become a verb, and therefore has actually been accepted in society as an activity.  Sitting on your ass at a computer is classed as 'doing something'.  Now that's depressing.

I'm not denying that Facebook is an absolute genius of a website, far beyond anything I could ever create.  But I just feel it's gone too far.  I like to be in touch.  I like to know what's going on.  But knowing that 'Sarah is at Starbucks on Stockport Road with Melissa, Alex and Sam.'  REALLY?  Now that is quite frankly just encouraging real-life stalking.  You wouldn't find it acceptable if someone followed you into Starbucks now would you? And where will it end? Will next week tell us that Sarah is in Starbucks drinking a Caramel Frappuccino on the third table from the window next to the man with the blue hat?  It's ridiculous.  

And the days before Facebook weren't that bad, were they? Maybe I didn't know as many useless details about people that I probably don't even speak to, but in hindsight I would say that ignorance is most definitely bliss.  There are many things that I just don't need to know.  And if I do, then surely someone would pick up the phone, or (God forbid) actually have a face-to-face conversation with me.

That's the other thing that grates me about Facebook.  With a click of a button, people can wander into your life, see how you're doing, what you've been up to, stare at your pictures and then leave.  All without a word. What happened to the good old conversation? People who actually make an effort to text, call or come and see you are the ones I really want to welcome into my life.  Those are the people I would classify as 'friends'.  Not the ones who just 'like' your pictures or write on your wall once a year to say 'happy birthday'. 

So with that I say farewell Facebook.  I realise I'm probably fighting a losing battle standing against the majority but I'm sticking to my guns with this one.  At least for now.  So if you want to know if I've gained twenty pounds, dyed my hair turquoise or got a new boyfriend I guess you'll have to pick up the phone and speak to me.  I'm not asking you to get your pigeon to deliver me a handwritten letter, it's just dialling some numbers.  And if that's too much effort, the sad fact is I guess we were never really friends anyway. 

So... no more invitations to Farmville.  No more 'liking'.  No more friend requests from Abdul in Mongolia.  My life is looking brighter already.