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Do You Alienate Your "Friends" On Social Media?

posted 3 years ago by BillHicksFan (10102)
43 replies | jump to latest

I think I do. Most of the people I know are always "safe" and if they get political, it's safe. That ignoring of the truth makes me want to post, shaking people up. Besides, it takes only a few seconds to type in something, and I can't see how I lose. Many times I put these demands I put on myself on others.. I might post something and say "Anyone who doesn't speak up about this is a fucking fake trendy justice whorior" or lament shitty art, but I've come to find that people don't want to have discussions.

My "Biden is Worse Than Trump For Left-Wingers" post actually went well, but the one friend I've never had an argument with in the 30 years we've known each other replied with "Anything to get the racist out of the White House" - only to put a smiling racist who did a TON more damage than Trump could ever imagine. Of course, he only responded to some shit I wrote about the favored nations clause and ignored the rest. One friend said "In all the years I've known you, you've been consistent" but one woman (the only "friend" I have on fakebook who I never met) mentioned something benign (pronoun shit) and even asked me a question, I replied with "I'm not going to be overwhelmed by pronouns when Palestinian atrocities are ignored", but she went silent. I gave her a few days and blocked her ass.

It's a way to vent.. I don't think there's anything to lose. If someone unfriends me - big deal, it probably saved me in the long run, not that there's any congregating during COVID. In the past, I thought of my career, but usually would go on anyway, maybe with a little more diplomacy, despite my anger.

Life is short and who cares about angering people or giving people the wrong impression because you aren't willing to preface everything with these safe words or safe terms "I'm not a Trump supporter, but"... As long as you tell the truth, fuck the repercussions. I don't use it (my laptop can't handle all the heavy html) except to rant once in a while (like I do here sometimes) and to put out a movie or song. Even if you don't get any "likes", you're still getting it out there, giving something you love a tally and giving it a tiny bit more attention on web browsers for example, or at least reminding people who forgot.

It's amazing how many people will change their tune to win the listeners of someone who isn't even listening.

[–] johnnm58 (545) 3 years ago

I'm not reading all of that.

[–] BillHicksFan (10102) 3 years ago

I see why you joined a text-only message board....

[–] johnnm58 (545) 3 years ago

It was suppose to be funny. But I guess not. Hah-Hah.

[–] BillHicksFan (10102) 3 years ago

rim shot

[–] chilone (17264) 3 years ago

I don't. I don't discuss things with friends unless they want to and then I stay civil.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Not intentionally, but I have had arguments and lost friends over my opinions on movies or politics.

[–] Kowalski (58007) 3 years ago

IN MY HEAD...AN ARGUMENT WITH YOU WOULD BE VERY MELLOW,AND YOURE MASSAGING MY SHOULDERS AND MAKING ME A QUICHE WHILE WERE ARGUEING.🤔

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71714) 3 years ago

It would be impossible to argue with Allaby...
Hell, I'd just immediately assume I was mistaken and apologize to the guy

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

You’re wrong! I demand an apology! 😛

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Sounds good. I would expect you to massage me afterwards.

[–] Kowalski (58007) 3 years ago

I NOTICE YOU DIDNT SPECIFY WHERE I WOULD BE "MASSAGING" YOU.🤔

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71714) 3 years ago

I'll just let myself out now😆

[–] Kowalski (58007) 3 years ago

🙄THATS A WEIRD WAY TO REFER TO YOUR PENIS.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I expect a full body nude massage with lotion.

[–] Kowalski (58007) 3 years ago

THATS COOL...BUT IM OUT OF NLOTION...I HOPE THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING IS OK?🙂

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Sounds yummy 😋

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaay...!

Real men use mustard and ketchup.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71714) 3 years ago

I have a knack for alienating people without any help from social media😬

Say No to social media

[–] Kowalski (58007) 3 years ago

YOU PEOPLE HERE ARE MY "FRIENDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA"....SO...YEAH,I ALIENATE MY FRIENDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.🙂

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71714) 3 years ago

We were all too polite to mention this!

[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

I joined Facebook over 10 years ago and didn't last long on it. People from work started sending me friend requests and I realized that even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to post anything meaningful or honest on it as I would definitely alienate them with my politics and that might have ramifications for me at work.

Not just politics but the music I listen, the stories and poetry I write, I wouldn't want them seeing or hearing any of it so the whole exercise became pointless.

While I was on there I did some snooping though, my old Primary and High school, seeing people I went to school with. Seeing the Left wing nuttery by the some, how some are just adult versions of their child selves etc. I would say I felt just as alien as I did when I was a kid around them!

It works both ways.

I also find the "I hate Trump" thing to be a bore. Cognitive dissonance and tribalism at it's finest.

[–] BullSchmidt (3189) 3 years ago

> I joined Facebook over 10 years ago and didn't last long on it.

Same here. I've still got my account, but only so if long lost (real life) friends want to contact me they have a way to do it.

> even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to post anything meaningful or honest on it

My problem with Facebook is that all your friends get dumped into one pot. I don't want that. I don't want my high school buddies to interact with my college friends. I don't want my college friends to interact with my family. I don't want my family to interact with my colleagues. I don't want my colleagues interacting with my fellow Guinness beer fanciers. I don't want my fellow Guinness beer fanciers interacting with my fellow schemers and plotters, striving to overthrow everything and achieve world domination by reuniting Gondwanaland ... oh wait, those two groups are one and the same. But you get the idea.

I don't think that's compartmentalizing in any pathological way, that's just normal. And in any case FB's friend suggestions remind me of the now old joke -- 80% of Facebook's friend suggestions are people I already know and wish I didn't.

[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

Yes, exactly. Maybe I want to share something Group A would like but I don't want Group B to see.

It would have been better that way to have more control over it. Most people now keep everything private and barely use it anyway and I think a lot of it is because of those types of concerns.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

That's why I use FB only for my FB friends. Instagram for Instagram friends. Real life for real life friends.

[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

That was my intent and perhaps being a little naive, was surprised when people at work started friending me. I didn't even have a pic up so they must have just assumed it was me.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Well, don't accept their friend requests then.

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 3 years ago

I think I do, Phoebe has never once liked my cat pictures, Monica ignores my pleas for cake recipes, Joey no longer wants to know how I’m doing, and I haven’t heard from Gunther since 2004!

[–] Stratego (29251) 3 years ago

But you're still banging Rachel, right???

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 3 years ago

Nah, I moved onto Ursula. 😍

[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

That would be some crazy shit. I could also imagine her just talking crap all night and shooting myself in the head to make it stop lol

[–] Kowalski (58007) 3 years ago

ON OR OFF CAMERA?

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 3 years ago

Both! But she likes to be called Phoebe for some weird reason.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71714) 3 years ago

You should unfriend Ross for all of those dino nude pics...that guy is a weirdo!

[–] Kowalski (58007) 3 years ago

PIVOT!

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 3 years ago

You too? Those pictures are gross!

[–] Kowalski (58007) 3 years ago

P I V O T !

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

I never have been part of FB nor Twitter. I keep my opinions to myself in person and shake my head when someone starts bringing up politics while we are playing some 4 hour long board game.

The thing about politics is this: If you bring it up, you are likely to get people who disagree with you riled up and angry. On the other hand, if you bring up politics, you are also likely to rile up and anger people who agree with you. Net=you made people angry and spoiled a nice situation.

Politics is for the arena. Perfectly fine there. Although some avoid the arena and want it removed. "The best boxer is who WE say is the best boxer ... stop asking for a fight to prove it."

[–] BillHicksFan (10102) 3 years ago

You're not missing anything.. I refused to get it for years, until I was overseas traveling and it came in handy after talking to people who benefited from its use, since we don't always have the chance to exchange contact information, and I'd see mutual friends, and then people from school, family, other friends sent requests, etc... I put it on "Vacation Mode" for a few years, but again, I thought "Might as well put out my opinions out there. I do it everywhere else.. Online and in person".

It definitely causes anger. I'm angry right now because of something someone said in a forum just like this, but it is what it is. Maybe people should channel their anger into something productive. I doubt it, though.