" "Just reading a post from a buddy of mine Gregg who 'went off' on his FB page after yesterday's tragedy. I have to say, Gregg -I agree! What do you think?
He wrote, "Thoughts and prayers” on social media is a cliche’, it just makes those who post it look shallow and insincere; like you are looking for attention. Why say it, if you really have prayers, have a silent prayer – there is no need to continually tweet it, it is trite. I’m not saying you don’t care, but the only reason to tweet “thoughts and prayers” or post it on facebook is to prove how much you care, it’s bad form.
Finally, it is so early into the incident that you really have to stop believing anything you see on twitter, even the journalists are getting it wrong in the name of being first. Question everything until we have some answers." "
In the comments that followed, a barrage of emotions showed themselves. Some commenters were incensed because they felt like they were 100% sincere in their "Thoughts and prayers" postings etc. while others were a bit more respectful in their disagreement with the post.
I have to agree with Gregg (or whoever wrote the original post). I saw comment after comment where people expressed their emotions at the post in forms of capital letters, exclamation points (don't forget to at the questions mark too if you really want to add emphais: ?!?!??!?!). People were also saying that this guy was unpatriotic and insensitive etc. All I could think what, is this where we've sunk? Is this how our nation communicates now? Do we have our noses so stuck to our phones and other people's FB pages that we have forgotten how to interact with people? I am one of these people. I always have my phone with me. If I am bored, I look at Facebook to keep me occupied. Look around you - Doctor's offices, Grocery stores, even classrooms - and you will see more than one person on their phone. When was the last time you walked away from your phone, or God forbid, left it at home when on an outing?
I can bet that you and I know more "Facebook facts" (as I'll call them because of course nothing is official until it's on Facebook) about one person on Facebook than we have Bible verses committed to memory.
So, my challenge to myself this week, count how many hours I spend on FB (a rough estimate).
Then count how many hours I spend pouring over my Bible.
The week after, reverse that trend, by deactivating my account if I have to. I have created a bad habit with myself and social media (Really only FB becuase Twitter is for academic purposes). I am on FB more than I would like to admit. I may not post stuff, but in a moment of boredom, I will scroll through the newsfeed endlessly. I find myself, hunched over, chin resting on one hand, eyes glazed over as the melodrama from my 600+ friends scrolls up my computer screen. It's become a sad, sad addiction.
Are you defined by your social media and what's on it or not on it? If we are becoming a nation defined by what is on our facebook, we are headed to Hell on a Magic Carpet Ride. That's a "Whole New World" right there, friends. What happened to the good old human interaction?
I also read an article about the 5 things to not do when dating - and the first three had to do with social media. Since when did dating become something reliant on the internet and communication over it??
Some people view social media as a good way to keep in touch with people or reconnect and in some ways I can see the validity of that argument. Then there's the other side of the spectrum - the people who are on social media all the time with their posts, daily life, current feelings, general drama.
So, I make this challenge to myself and anyone willing to do it with me. I would rather learn more about my Bible and my Savior than I would all of my friends combined. Not saying it's a bad thing to be informed about your family and friends, but since my relationship with Jesus is my number 1, doesn't it make sense to put that one first?
