I Deactivated Facebook…

As a blogger, Facebook is a large part of my life. However, I made a decision after weeks of pondering to deactivate my personal Facebook account.  Luckily, I still had a business profile so I am still able to post on my business pages.

Why did I deactivate Facebook? 

Of course, there was a final straw. However, legally, at this point, I’m not allowed to talk about it. It was more than slightly disturbing and just more proof of the idiotic people in this world. Especially ones that don’t know the difference between their/there/they’re. If you are going to send harassing messages or get in an argument on Facebook, you should at least try to make sure you don’t have glaring grammatical mistakes in your messages.

The thing about Facebook is there is quite a bit of bitching that happens. Yes, I’ve been guilty of it myself. Hence, deactivation. I just hate when I come in with a commonsense comment with a logical resolution and I get bombarded by idiots.

Example: The funny part about this story is I thought nothing after my postings on a recent Halloween bitch-fest> People were ticked because our town didn’t change hours even though we were supposed to get a huge storm. Apparently, this equaled our town and leaders hating children. It is the only logical conclusion that a reasonable person could come to after reading the mayor’s letter. {sarcasm} BTW, it rained most of the evening on Halloween but not quite the storms predicted.  It wasn’t all that bad plus there were churches that had indoor activities so plenty of darn places for your kids to get their free candy. Anyway, I  ticked someone off that is a friend of a friend. So much so that she told her elementary aged child that “we were in a fight on Facebook.” My third grader comes home telling me this and I was like, “what?” I don’t even know who this woman is! Then I search my email for Facebook comments. I couldn’t find mine because the original poster had deleted the conversation. However, I did come across this golden nugget, which kind of tells you the mentality that I’m dealing with…

facebook

This also means I need to add “there’s” as a new variation of theirs. I just can’t even….Are/our, holy run-on and fragmented sentences. This is an actual adult who wrote this post.

I know I’m not perfect at grammar and everyone makes mistakes but sooooo many in one short Facebook comment. This is something that you can’t quite blame on auto-correct either! Obviously, I can’t keep my fingers from typing when on Facebook and the idiots will not be going away so deactivation here I come. BTW, this was not my final straw. There is even worse (more worse – hahahahaha) stuff that has happened since this alleged Facebook “fight.”

My core reasons to deactivate:

  • Less time on Facebook = more time work on other things.
  • Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing/saying/posting/etc.
  • Won’t be annoyed/ticked off with idiotic posts and idiotic people.
  • Small town gossip that is spread via Facebook with vague postings that everyone starts to talk about.
  • Adult bullying of children that they believe are bullies via Facebook.
  • Messages from people wanting donations, home party invites from random-ish people, etc.
  • Braggy posts that make you want to vomit about alleged perfect lives. (We all know that is NOT true!)
  • Starting to dislike people solely based on their Facebook posts.
  • Knowing way too many details about people.
  • Reading drama that has nothing to do with me just out of sheer curiosity. It is just a time waster.
  • Stalkers. Yes, I have them. Again, not my final straw but at least if people want to stalk me now, it will benefit me from them visiting my actual websites instead of just on Facebook.

Am I having withdrawals?

Surprisingly, I am not. I thought it would be extremely hard for me to quit Facebook. However, I stay in touch with the people that are my actual friends on text message, phone calls, and in person.

Bonus is that I will be posting more on my personal website! I know you are thrilled. All two readers that I have! 🙂

Oh and I also deactivated my personal Twitter account too. It used to be my sanctuary from Facebook but too many local folks are now joining so I’m done with it.

Future of my Facebook Account?

I’m sure I will reactivate my account.  However, I will not have the app on my phone or my iPad. This will limit me to just viewing Facebook when on the computer to keep up with the long distance friends & family that I want to keep up with!

Not Ready for the World to Read?

“I have a blog but I’m not ready for it to be public.”

Oh, the shame, the horror. You could hear the gasps in the air.

To say that phrase at a blogging conference. Who would dare say such a thing? Blasphemy at a blogging conference.

Understandably, it was one of the people working to organize the conference. They weren’t there primarily as a blogger.

Of course, upon meeting anyone at a blogging conference, you want to know what their blog is. She said she had a personal blog but wasn’t ready for people to read it yet.

I completely relate.

Even though, I have another blog, which gets thousands of hits every day, I’m not ready for the world to read my personal blog. If someone stumbles upon it fine, but I’m not out there advertising it to the whole world.

First of all, why would anyone really care. Second of all, there are other sites that do the personal stuff much better.  Plus, will people still like me knowing all of this here?

I applaud those who do and can take the heat on their personal thoughts and life.

Even here in my personal space, I still feel I censor my thoughts and feelings. As a matter of fact, I have several “unpublished” posts ready to go when I’m ready. Will people still like me if I post all of my personal thoughts?

You know though. It’s okay. It is okay to have a blog and not want the whole world to read or have anyone read it.

When you are ready, you will know.

Encourage One Another and Build One Another Up

On my Food for the Poor Calendar, it has scripture from the Bible. When I read this at the beginning of the month, I was amazed at how timely it was to my life.

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another as, as indeed you do.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

It seems to be quite fitting in this give me, give me, its all about me age. Not only is it applicable in my real life, it is applicable in my blogging life as well.

So many people, it is all about them and tearing people down instead of building them up. When we help to build others up and do unselfish acts, it in turn helps to bring us UP as well.

For example, when I link to other blogs. It gives them traffic as well as allowing my blog readers to find other relevant reading options. As much as I want to,  I really can’t be the complete, absolute resource to my readers  as it is just be running my blog. It doesn’t hurt to me share my traffic. My blog wouldn’t have grown if it hadn’t been for others linking to me.

So when I link to others, in turn those blogs may or may not link to me. It is about building relationships. Bringing people up and not tearing them down.

Too many times lately have I heard or seen others bringing other people down in a variety of ways. I don’t want to be a part of bringing people down. I want to be a person to help build them up!

Blogher & Finally a Blissdom Recap

Yes, I found this post in my unpublished posts. I never finished my Blissdom recap and mainly because I was afraid I was going to leave someone or something out – which I am sure will still happen! I thought it was a fitting post since I’m about to head off to the mother of all conference – BlogHer 2009 in Chicago, IL.

Blissdom was my first ever blogging conference. It was also my first, yes, my first time to ever travel completely by myself. Never in my thirty years have I ever went on a trip by myself. Even though, I missed my family, it was a wonderful experience. Though, I was a little star struck by some of the awesome bloggers who were there.

Andrea & Briana

First, I want to thank Andrea aka mommysnacks for asking me if I was going to Blissdom. She made it all possible. If she wouldn’t have asked me if I was going on twitter, I don’t think I would have even looked into it. She is was my twitter profile pic twin. Even my kids were getting confused by the pics. In “real life”, she is much taller than me as you can see.

Briana and Sarah

Briana and Sarah

Second, I want to thank Julie (Cool Mom Guide). If it weren’t for her, I would have been in my room all alone. She helped break me out of my shell with her spunk! I had many good laughs with her and Sarah (Real Life Blog)- can’t wait to meet again. Another great roomie was Carrie. We had a blast twittering back and forth while in the same room together! I also was able to meet Renée (Cutie Booty Cakes) – another fabulous blogger.

Briana & Emily (one of the funniest, sweetest bloggers!)

Briana & Emily (one of the funniest, sweetest bloggers!)

A Shout out to the #indy bloggers at Blissdom – Sarah & Mary Ellen (Mom Marbles), Emily, and Casey. I didn’t get to spend as much time with them as I would have liked but I have had the opportunity since Blissdom to hang out at some local blogging events.

Bargain Briana and Brandy from Savin Some

Bargain Briana and Brandy from Savin Some

I was able to meet some of the blogging superstars like Erin, Tara, and Erin. I also was able to hang out with Brandi, who is a real sweetie and was brave enough to bring her family. I met Becky, Nickels and Dimes, who was just a ball of energy – I wish I would have found her before the last day.

Marcy, Erin, and Erin

Marcy, Erin, and Erin

I met countless Ohio Bloggers – like Marcy, Jenny, Emily, Carrie, Courtney, Trisha,  as well as Andrea, Erin, and Tara who have been kind enough to adopt me as one of their own – otherwise known as the “token Indiana Blogger!” Those connections that started out as internet friends have blossomed over the months into real friendships and I’m totally jealous they all live so close together.

By the end of the two day conference, I was worn out from all the socializing, learning, and just plain fun or just oblivious. Oh, and I can’t forget about the wonderful swag bag – which included a Land’s End Bag, Crocs gift certificate, music, and Little Debbie Snacks!

The Swag

So while I’m ready to take on Blogher 2009 in Chicago, I know that I will be worn out and a walking zombie after three days with so many more bloggers to meet and parties to attend and much, much, more swag!

Blog Friends become REAL Friends

In the past few months since I began blogging, I’ve had the opportunity to meet my online friends IN REAL LIFE. They are actual people just like me!

I’ve been really behind on blogging as I still need to blog about my Blissdom trip. But first, I want to write about the great local ladies I met last month.

After emailing back and forth for several months and discussing how we needed to meet up,  Cherie aka The Queen of Free and I finally set a date and opened it up to anyone who wanted to come. I was going to cry if no one showed up.

So after finally finding Joanna through twitter. I still feel bad that Sarah and I were chatting outside and didn’t even know Joanna was sitting inside waiting for us. We think she walked in with the high school volleyball players and just blended right in. Cherie was running late because of the traffic. She was coming all the way from the Southside.

Sarah and I actually kind of saw each other briefly at the Ridemakerz Event back in December but we didn’t really have the opportunity to talk since we were occupied with our children that day. I found out that it is a very small world as her husband works for a company that we interact with.

While we came together for our love of blogging, I think we chatted about non-blogging stuff just as much. I had a blast and hope I can make it to the next one. We closed down MacAllister’s on that Saturday night! I think they were ready to get rid of us but scared to kick us out since we were armed with laptops!

Hello world!

This where I’m going to blog about my family and friends! 🙂

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