topic Re: Facebook Blues in Community Chat

Facebook Blues

THEJBUGG — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 02:16:02 GMT

I was talking to a good friend the other day and I shared with her that since I gave up Facebook for Lent, my outlook on my life has dramatically changed. I used to get so depressed/discouraged about my life when I saw the things other people posted but I thought I was the only one who felt this way. My friend said she gets very depressed on Facebook and has had to cut back her time on it.

Am I the only one who experiences this or do others of you feel the same way? I know we're not supposed to compare our life with other people's but sometimes it's hard not to compare when they post how great their marriage is, their kids are etc. especially when you're not married and have no kids like me.

Just curious if Facebook makes anyone else feel this way.

Re: Facebook Blues

JaneMarple — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 02:20:18 GMT

OP did you ever wonder that sometimes the people who are posting wonderful things are are doing so to keep up appearances? Or they may be like me who only posts positive posts because I don't believe in sharing negative happenings in my life.

Re: Facebook Blues

Silver Lotus — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 02:21:42 GMT

If they are constantly on FB how great can their real lives be? Think about it.

Re: Facebook Blues

Buck-i-Nana — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 02:26:16 GMT

FB doesn't depress me at all, well except during political season when I end up seeing some really ugly political stuff being posted by people who are normally not like that. I unfollow those folks during that time.

I love my life. It's not the life others may want to live, but it's the life I want to live. I can watch the postings from friends of their world travels, or major home renovations or their new cars and be happy for them. I hope when I post pics of my grandkids playing sports, riding bikes and scooters and skateboards, of my crazy family get-togethers that my friends and distant relatives can smile and be happy for me!

One other thing, I don't have hundreds of friends on FB. I have intentionally kept my friends to family and a couple of good neighbors and a few good friends from before I retired.

Re: Facebook Blues

hckynut — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 04:22:14 GMT

I only live in the real world and what I say or read here has no effect on my personal life. Facebook? My wife set up an account for me, that is what she said, but I have not even been there and probably never will.

Re: Facebook Blues

MrsSweetieBear — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:15:15 GMT

My facebook blues, when they happen, are due to animal abuse and type posts. Or reading sad or bad news about my friends.

Seeing people's selfie's at fancy $pendy restaurants and such doesn't bum me out...much...

Re: Facebook Blues

colliemom4 — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:36:26 GMT

I deleted FB a long time ago, but it's funny you bring this up because I read an article last week about how depressed Facebook makes people. So you aren't alone.

Re: Facebook Blues

JaneMarple — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:50:05 GMT

I like FB, I keep up with my extended family through their posts and photos. I don't get the blues reading there, most of the time I have quite a few laughs throughout the week.

Re: Facebook Blues

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:56:15 GMT

Just remember that anything you post on there becomes THEIR PROPERTY and can use as they please.

BTW, you want to get really depressed? Print out and read Facebook's TERMS OF USE that you agree to when you sign up. Clearly, it was written by flesh eating lawyers who have every loophole covered should anyone file a complaint ... or sue them!

Re: Facebook Blues

Shorty2U — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:57:09 GMT

Facebook doesn't depress me. I just play games and follow my family and friends updates and a lot of musicians pages. It gets my mind off of things when my husband is at work and in bed early for work. The news gets me upset, its 99% bad news. However, I can tell you if I was still able to work I would not be on the internet.

Re: Facebook Blues

colliemom4 — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:59:19 GMT

OP, google facebook causes depression. They are many articles on it if you are interested.

Re: Facebook Blues

september — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 06:02:52 GMT

Reading posts on Facebook can be compared to reading posts on this board or any other online site.

You have to use your own filters...some of it might be genuine...a lot is not.

What really made me sad was when a friend of mine who has cancer, closed her Facebook account because she thought she wouldn't be living up to expectations, whatever those might be.

That was 7 years ago, and I miss her posts and her photos of her son. And in turn, she doesn't get to see the family photos I post.

She asked me to send her photos of my son's wedding..I'd already posted about 100 of them on Facebook, but since she closed her account, she could no longer see them. I sent her many of them, but I obviously couldn't send her as many as she could have seen if she was still on Facebook.

Re: Facebook Blues

Mominohio — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 12:43:17 GMT

I'm just old enough to find Facebook and other forms of social media totally unnecessary. I think that a Facebook page for businesses and such is a great tool for marketing and sharing information with customers and followers, but for personal use, it tends to take on a life of its own.

I really don't care to keep in touch with people in this fashion, and I certainly have no intention of putting my life and pictures of everything and everyone online.

Anyone who is fooled into thinking that no one sees your stuff unless you allow it is misinformed. I have never been a member on FB, and haven't allowed my son to use social media of any kind either, but a friend of his left her page up on my computer one day, so I looked around. I was able to access other kid's pages and couldn't believe how much personal info (addresses, ages, private documents with pics etc) they were putting out there. I am extremely tech challenged, and I was able to see a lot of different kids pages, I can only imagine if someone knew what they were doing. Your page is only as safe as your friends who access it keep it.

Re: Facebook Blues

biancardi — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 13:32:29 GMT

FB doesn't depress me. I am not sure why it would depress folks unless their friends are going thru some hard times and posting about it.

Re: Facebook Blues

glb613 — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 13:40:27 GMT

On 4/2/2014 THEJBUGG said:
I was talking to a good friend the other day and I shared with her that since I gave up Facebook for Lent, my outlook on my life has dramatically changed. I used to get so depressed/discouraged about my life when I saw the things other people posted but I thought I was the only one who felt this way. My friend said she gets very depressed on Facebook and has had to cut back her time on it.

Am I the only one who experiences this or do others of you feel the same way? I know we're not supposed to compare our life with other people's but sometimes it's hard not to compare when they post how great their marriage is, their kids are etc. especially when you're not married and have no kids like me.

Just curious if Facebook makes anyone else feel this way.

You must be suffering from depression if reading FaceBook postings bothers you that much. I'd suggest you talk to your doctor.

Re: Facebook Blues

151949 — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 13:52:16 GMT

I guess I am unique in how I use FB. I have only "friended" my close friends and family and I use FB as a easy and convenient way to communicate with them. I love to go there and have brief discussions with people I love every day as I live 1100 miles away from most of my friends and my family is scattered all around the world. I think people who "friend" every Tom, D*ck, and Harry so they have a huge compliment of folks they barely know may find it is not as much fun, but for me , i love FB and am Oh so happy to go there every day. perhaps some need to pare down the folks they have friended.

Re: Facebook Blues

CouponQueen — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 13:52:54 GMT

No way do I get depressed reading it..I would seriously think you are already suffering from a depressive disorder to begin with. I can't imagine reading the BS people post would depress me. What depresses you? You do realize behind those posts and brags lies a regular person with a REAL life that is not so fairytalish..

I often read for entertainment purposes lol..

I belong to a couple FB yardsale (not really in their yard but online for sale) sites and it is FUN to just read the junk people are selling and the prices..one lady was selling size 4T jeans..with holes all in the knees..$2..nobody bought..she reduced to a $1..they still sat lol..

Re: Facebook Blues

ilovedaisies — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 14:12:22 GMT

I find much more here to be depressed about than on FB. People here slip into another nickname and post about horrific family matters and health issues. People here are much more hateful to each other than people on FB. The people I "see" on FB are people I choose to see and interact with. If someone does bother you in some way, you can just block them and never see them again.

Re: Facebook Blues

TaxyLady — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 14:26:00 GMT

I think what you are describing is self centeredness. (this is a normal condition for many people) Your focus is not on others but more on yourself. Happiness and enjoyment of life is your responsibility. No one else's. Try focusing on things that bring you joy and peace. For me these things come from the Lord. "As we think in our hearts, that is who we will be." Start thinking differently. It is your choice.

Re: Facebook Blues

serenity4ever — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:18:35 GMT

Facebook doesn't depress me. I enjoy reading about other people's lives and what brings them happiness.