family

Apparently, my brain has “Facebook Antibodies”.

~ Ron Walker ~ 25 Comments

Apparently, my brain has something that just repels Facebook. I have tried a personal page, and a Facebook Page. Neither one is interesting to me, nor does it generate any interaction, at least not the type I enjoy. I spent more time filtering out political, religious, and “Please forward this” to attempt to prevent sensory overload.

I’ve never been one to chase statistics, number of people, or post counts. Interaction between people in a community is what drives me. For thirteen years I have run a general discussion forum. We are approaching 740,000 posts. Although not many members have met one another personally, they still share and enjoy interaction. We have on average 30-40 members per day visit. Facebook? So different. I have about 3-4 people that actually interact with posts. They are from the forum. They are always appreciated.

Minion memes, or semi-crude graphics

In the last couple of months, I have dropped back to sharing memes and graphics, just to see what type is liked. Apparently you gather large numbers of likes with Minion memes, or semi-crude graphics. “Likes” simply mean they saw it, and clicked they liked it, perhaps copying it to share with someone else. Or they may actually click the “share” button.

It’s truly addictive, and I have resisted that addiction

Maybe the stats aren’t that bad, but the interaction is nearly non-existent. I have tried posts with questions, and other things to garner responses, but sadly Facebook seems to be more of a self-gratification type of atmosphere. Everyone posts pictures to see how many “likes” they get. It’s truly addictive, and I have resisted that addiction. Perhaps that is what keeps me from having more interaction. I’m not into impressing myself, but want to give others a chance to interact.

The stats look okay, but nearly null on comments or posts, when you browse the page. Plenty of likes and shares. I’m not sad or bummed. I have always been a klutz on Facebook. It’s just not my “thing”. Many people, use it to share with family and actually converse, which is what it was meant for. Anyhow, I think I will step back from it. Maybe leave it active as an avenue for long-lost friends or old police buddies to contact me if needed. I can alert forum members to any problems should the forum go offline due to technical problems. Which is what the page was originally meant for.

How to you view Facebook. Know anyone that appears addicted? Do you use it much? I would love to hear your thoughts. Horror stories?

Comments always welcome,

7th level of Hell, New Year Griswold Style.

~ Ron Walker ~ 22 Comments

My first post in nearly a month. The only thing I can think of to write about, is the dysfunctional atmosphere. Fate has brought about circumstances that are beyond our control. A visit by Eddie, the brother-in-law that was supposed to be here for three weeks, is now three months and counting. At least this time they (so far) are self-sufficient. We wound up on this level, due to the mother-in-law taking a turn for the worse during his visit. We now have her on Hospice, just waiting.

My living room, where I would seek quiet and relaxation, is now always filled with four elderly dachshunds, and two human Griswold types, that have no social skills. They sit on opposite sides of the living room, Face Chatting, or whatever they call it, video chatting with their kids or family. I’m sorry, I don’t really care to hear both sides of your conversation over the program I’m trying to watch. I hesitate to say anything, there is so much undercurrent of sadness from the situation of the terminally ill mother.

There are some positive things. The extra female in the house (Eddie’s wife, lets call her Catherine, like the movie) helps take some load off Michelle. Getting up all hours when she hears her mother calling on the baby monitor, has worn her out, so the two women take turns with the monitor duty. I’ve gotten a bathroom floor repaired, a ramp built just before the person it was for, took a turn for the worse. Some leaks stopped by replaced shingles, which were promptly blown off 2 days later along with some siding, by a violent thunderstorm. I’m still not sure, if three repairs in three months is much progress.

Ever met someone that “puts on” as we say in the South. A person who is trying their best to show they are helping, yet at the same time raises the stress level several notches. Eddies wife, likes to take care of “Momma” as she calls her, with the most fake southern twang possible. She spends time in the bedroom of the terminally ill mother-in-law, which is located next to my office. Instead of just talking to her, and going along with the end time delirium the poor woman is going through, Mrs Griswold wants to talk loudly continually correcting her, trying to make sure she gets the point across, that she is imagining things. Why correct a terminally ill person, that is seeing their loved ones again in a delirium. At that moment they are happy, stop smashing the mirror of the moment, and causing more stress. However, I am just short of pulling a Clark Griswold scene from the movie.

So the Griswold Christmas Vacation continues into the new year. There will be no sequel. Next year, there will be a prominent “No vacancy” sign on this home.

Comments welcome,
Where’s the Tylenol..