I’m tired. Not just from lack of sleep (though there is that) but because of the news. I’ve never paid much attention to what goes on in the USA except for the past few months. It is, of course, due to the Great Orange Threat. I find myself obsessed not only with what it spews but the reactions to what it spews as well, until I find myself mired in so much rhetoric that it leaves me distracted, miserable, and unable to create. A death knoll for someone like me.
My enabler is Facebook, that bottomless pit of drive-thru opinions and baseless regurgitation we all know and despise. So I’ve decided to walk away from it for a while. My posts from WordPress will continue to automatically post to my author page, but I won’t be around to comment. I’m giving it a week, if I’m strong enough. I’ll try to finish as many of the Scrabble games that I have going tonight, and that’ll be it. I’m pulling the plug.
It will be an experiment. To see how much more I get done; to spend the time I would have wasted scanning my newsfeed to write, edit, read books, read blogs, play with my family, exercise, and spend time in the place where I took the picture above. As I sat there this morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much we take for granted. That there will always be places like this. There won’t, unless we start doing something about changing our attitudes and caring about everyone and everything. Without exception.
I need to step back from the rhetoric and find out how I can make a difference, no matter how small. Do you know the definition of the word “rhetoric”? It is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing ~ Google. I find it necessary to stop listening to all the voices telling me how to go about doing what’s best for me. And especially, I have to stop watching what I have no power to control. I realize I must decide what is best for me, for my family, for the city I live in, for my country, and for my planet all by myself. Only then can I act. Facebook, for me, has become a means to pointless, futile worry. We’ll see what a week teaches me. Will it kill me? I’ll get back to you on it.
June 15, 2016 at 7:55 pm
Nicely said. And yes, Facebook is a black hole from which not even light can escape. (A week might not be enough, friend) Hope you get to feeling better. 🙂
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June 14, 2016 at 10:24 pm
If you find it affecting you in a negative way, then this is a good idea Linda. FB is a place to be mindless for me. I only go on it later at night, and not every night. The odd time if I’m having a coffee break I may check there for messages and the first few posts I see. Otherwise my productivity would be a lot less using it for a distraction lol. You’re so right, the news is depressing, but we’re bound to hear it through many other grapevines. We need to fine tune our ‘tune out’. 🙂
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June 14, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Take care of yourself Linda – may the force be with you. 🙂
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June 14, 2016 at 7:01 pm
Thank you, Obi Wan. 😉 😀
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June 14, 2016 at 3:50 am
I like Facebook and I have no problem with the ranting morons on there, (they are so fun to troll, after all) but if you think that’s bad, try spending some time on the comment threads of Gawker Media sites.
I’m a regular contributor on Kinja, Gawker’s blogging/commenter platform and you wouldn’t believe what a cesspool of racists, homophobes, gun apologists and bile-spewing mega-trolls it’s been over the last couple of days.
However, it is a useful place to get a feel for what the opinions are on the current batch of odious politicians, moronic NRA worshipers and (the occasional) sane and reasonable American commentator, even if it does reduce your confidence in the likelihood of us all surviving six months past the election.
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June 14, 2016 at 7:04 pm
The Facebook twits are bad enough that I sometimes think my eyeballs will get stuck in the rolling upward position. 😛
I’m giving you six months. I’m about 5 months closer, geographically.
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June 15, 2016 at 1:09 am
What are you giving me six months of, exactly?
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June 15, 2016 at 7:17 am
…survival after the election…? Isn’t that what you said in your comment?
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June 15, 2016 at 7:27 am
Ah, ok.
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June 13, 2016 at 10:06 pm
Take care of you Linda….
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June 13, 2016 at 10:56 pm
Thank you, Michael. 🙂 I’ll miss seeing you over there for the week.
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June 13, 2016 at 10:57 pm
I’m always here Linda, stop by anytime..🤓
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June 13, 2016 at 10:58 pm
Maybe without Facebook taking up my time I’ll have a chance! 🙂
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June 13, 2016 at 10:59 pm
Well I hope you cope ok away from it…thankfully it is something I can take or leave…..take care…
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June 13, 2016 at 11:07 pm
You too, my friend. 🙂
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June 13, 2016 at 9:22 pm
I hope you find some solutions on your time away.
I feel the same, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, still haven’t been able to come up with any kind of workable plan of action. 😦
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June 13, 2016 at 10:55 pm
I’ll just sign out and not let myself back in. Thing is, I make it too easy on myself to visit Facebook, because I leave a tab open all the time.
Thanks, Jill. Hope you’re able to break away too. 🙂
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June 16, 2016 at 12:12 am
Thanks Linda,
it’s so easy to get caught up in the online world instead of the real world. I wonder why that is?
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June 16, 2016 at 7:28 am
I think it’s because it’s an escape from reality.
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June 19, 2016 at 10:20 pm
probably, I prefer reading for that.
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June 13, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Take care. We all need a break now and then especially from news and nonsense overload.
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June 13, 2016 at 10:53 pm
Indeed we do. Thanks, Tric. 🙂
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June 13, 2016 at 4:06 pm
We support you and we will be here when you need us. That’s what friendship means.
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June 13, 2016 at 10:52 pm
It certainly does. Thanks, Pamela. 🙂
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June 13, 2016 at 4:00 pm
I “broke up” with Facebook last week, though I still use messenger to keep in contact with people. It is a blessing in that I don’t get opinion and news overload, but I didn’t know about the shooting until today because I hadn’t been online. Not sure if that is good or bad
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June 13, 2016 at 10:52 pm
Sometimes I find out about stuff from trending hashtags on twitter. It’s not as invasive over there. 🙂
Thanks, my dear. I’m sure we’ll both be happier with our “break-up.”
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June 13, 2016 at 3:41 pm
These are the reasons why I haven’t gotten back onto Facebook after giving it up almost 3 years ago. I am afraid that I won’t be able to do what I want – generate interest for my writing – without happening across some terrible crap going around. Even when my family talks about what they see on there, it’s enough to send me to a different room in the house.
Best wishes to you, Linda.
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June 13, 2016 at 10:50 pm
Thank you, my dear. It’s a scary place. Good for you for staying away.
If only we could all afford to hire a team of people to do the social media bit to sell books, eh? 😛
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June 13, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Oh, that would be awesome.
I would refer to them as my minions, and we would have cake and ice cream whenever a new book comes out.
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June 14, 2016 at 7:05 pm
Oh! Oh! Oh! Can I volunteer?
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June 13, 2016 at 3:37 pm
Linda, I agree with you. The hateful language does nothing but inflame those that feel threatened. I am appalled at the word choices and the logic that building walls is the answer. I am as frustrated as you. Hugs and take a break. ❤
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June 13, 2016 at 10:49 pm
Thanks, Colleen. There are a few people I’ll miss over there – you’re one of them. Won’t be for long though. 🙂
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June 14, 2016 at 8:22 am
Aww, Linda. Hugs to you! 💖💖💖
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June 14, 2016 at 8:35 am
❤
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June 13, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Take all the time you need!
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June 13, 2016 at 10:47 pm
Thanks, Vic. 🙂
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June 13, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Take care Linda, recharge your batteries. I hate facebook too, and Twitter etc the frighten me.
It is a sad bad world everywhere you look evil seeping up through the wires. Love for now see you soon . willow xxxx
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June 13, 2016 at 10:47 pm
Thanks, Willow. I won’t be far away from WordPress. 🙂
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June 14, 2016 at 2:14 am
Good 😉
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June 13, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Enjoy the break. Sometimes FB can drain your energy. Sometimes, during times of crisis, it reveals more than you want to know. I am skimming social media this week (but paying attention to blog posts)
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June 13, 2016 at 10:47 pm
It’s like the pit of hell sometimes. Thanks, Dan. 🙂 Skimming is good.
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June 13, 2016 at 2:54 pm
I hope you find the refreshment you need. I hope you return, new and energized, and brilliant.
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June 13, 2016 at 10:45 pm
Thank you, Sue. 🙂
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June 13, 2016 at 2:42 pm
We don’t do FB…just WP/Blogger…anyways…we just had the same conversation…we actually, due to finances, just went and turned in our cable boxes…the bill has gone up another $80…anyways…I am a bit delusioned by many things…one of them the high prices just to make ends meet…well…never mind…
Good luck—I completely understand, truly I do.
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June 13, 2016 at 10:45 pm
Not doing Facebook at all is probably a good idea. Thanks for commiserating. 🙂
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June 13, 2016 at 2:34 pm
I hope this break helps Linda.
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June 13, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Thank you. 🙂
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