Fewer Facebook Friends

Social media has changed my life.  I have friends from all over the country because of the Internet (another story) and have been able to reconnect with long lost friends because it.  

But......if I had it to over again I would handle Facebook differently.  At first it was exciting to befriend old high school pals.   My 25th class reunion was a year ago. A number of months before that a Facebook page was set up as a place to provide information and find classmates.   It was an unfortunate discovery to find that many of my classmates are right wing, self-righteous self-centered ass holes who only hear what they want to hear and don't think for themselves.   I can rant about politics another time but as the months went by I found it very frustrating to have to see political posts by "friends" that I vehemently disagreed with.   This class reunion was being planned at the time my state - Wisconsin - was being torn apart by our lying piece of crap Governor.  

I could not imagine myself going to the festivities with a smile on my face pretending to be interested in my classmates kids, spouses, travels, etc.   Besides the fact that I'm childfree by choice and really can't relate to the trials and tribulations of parenting, my interest and focus at that time was the recall of as many republicans in our state as possible.   So, although I live only about 30 minutes from where I grew up, I decided not to go.  

As the political climate grew more and more tense so did my irritation with right-wing extremist ideas.   Why I didn't realize sooner I could reduce this stress so easily by "hiding" I don't know.  I began to do so and what a relief.

It's not just those past classmates but others like co-workers that I would not have friended in hindsight.   Recently I've been not just "hiding" but "unfriending"  those who cause irritation.  I've unfriended a gal who sits right next to me at work.  In the work environment we get along fine but she one of those Tea Party followers.   Sheesh. 

Anytime some dolt posts something I don't like - unfriend.  I'm sick having to listen to the other side.  I hear enough from then otherwise.    There are a few exceptions like some family - sheesh again.  For a while it was fun to see the number of friends rising but that number has certainly taken a dive in the last year.

Facebook is a place for keeping me in touch with those who I want to keep in touch with and for keeping me informed.  Had I to do it over again, I would be much more choosy about my "friends".