Fighting Facebook?

There is a lot more to write about our vacation, and Hubby has posted pictures on Facebook (check them out!). But speaking of Facebook, I have been wondering about something.

After many invites from friends, I joined the Facebook nation two years ago. As soon as I signed up, it opened up a whole new world. Friends who invited me immediately "became" my friends (as if we were not already); within hours, Facebook connected me to many friends from around the country and friends from back home, some of whom I have been in touch all along, some of whom I have not. It was wonderful to share lives with them despite the physical distance.

I have really appreciated this connection; but on the other hand, I have also been wondering about what I should post.

Should I post day-to-day happenings? But is it important for others to know what I had for lunch? 

Should I post my whereabouts?

Should I post my thoughts (random or not)? My questions? Pictures?

Nothing is wrong about these postings because this is part of sharing life. But in this Facebook nation that promotes connections, this is an extremely self-centered world. It is all about "me." I might be posting updates and letting all my friends know how I am doing, but these updates are not really directed to one person or a group of people. It is different from calling a particular family member or friend on the phone, or emailing them, or, for that matter, seeing that person face to face.

Some of my friends have recently closed their Facebook accounts because of it.

I have also been thinking about something else: how do I balance between posting my daily happenings and what is going on in my friends' lives and around the world?

One night, I was about to post something happy only to see that two different friends both lost a parent on the same evening. I could not bring myself to share my happy news when my friends were grieving.

A few days ago, I was going to post about dinner plan with my friends to celebrate a birthday before learning about what happened in Norway.

Then, I was going to post about the great weekend I had, but I could not do that in the midst of the terrible train accident in China.

There are many sufferings around us, whether it is in the news or not. But I know I can do better about my postings. One of my guiding principles for Facebook postings has been to post something that involves not only me, but also others (Hubby, family, friends etc.), and this has helped me think twice before posting.

I am still thinking and wondering about my Facebook citizenship. It is a wonderful way to connect with family and friends, but it is also an easy trap for self-centeredness, of which I hope I am not too guilty.