Facebook has become one of the most connected mediums available to anyone with an internet connection or a smart phone. The ability to connect with old friends from 20+ years ago, before Al Gore created the internet, is seemingly a miracle. When our parents graduated high school, they were forced to rely on word of mouth alone to connect. Now with Facebook we can connect with people we know, who they know, and then who they know… pretty soon we will all know Kevin Bacon. It is just a matter of time.
I’m thankful for my Father and Mother, as well as my Grandmothers for teaching me manners. I still out of habit, and fear of a beating, call most Sir or Mam. I also was raised in the south, and believe you should hold the door for ladies, should help an Elder, and always say please and thank you. I’m thankful for that investment in my life!
I have almost 3000 friends on Facebook, many I met while preaching, speaking, travelling, camps, and even more during my run for Congress. I took nearly seven months off of really being involved in Facebook, and Twitter for that matter, but am now back involved. I’m often shocked at the immature and insenstive manner that so many post with. As if they are on their own reality show to display their disain for whatever is taking place in their small sphere of the world.
So in the spirit of giving back here are the most obvious examples of Facebook Foolishness.
FOOLISH POST 1: “You are the greatest __________ I’ve ever had in my life!”
Do you not realize that every person on Facebook who was ___________ in your life will wonder what part of their personhood doesn’t measure up to you. Really? Would you ever make this statement in person with fifty people standing nearby, and especially those closest to you who are whatever in your life you are talking about? It could be your sister, teacher, daughter, son, boss, etc… Let’s say you have three sisters and you highlight, one sister… “you are the best sister ever!” You’ll be the same foolish person who posts in a year that you don’t know why you are having communication problems with your sister. What did the other two do that doesn’t measure up? How would you like being on the receiving end of this post?
FOOLISH POST 2: “You know scripture says… blah blah blah… and people should do this… blah blah blah”
I love the sharing of scripture, life lessons, motivational phrases, and inspirational quotes. BUT! If you want to climb on the soap box, please for sake of facebook foolishness for all of us – live what espouse! My favorites are those that want to encourage people to live in a righteous standard, but we all know there is no stability in this poster’s life. How many times do they create or stir up drama that is disenting, how many times they aren’t living up to their soap box? Likewise, if you can’t control your kids, no one really cares about your opinion, because your actions are foolish.
FOOLISH POST 3: “I going through blah blah blah, I’m tired, blah blah blah, I’m so upset blah blah blah”
Granny Vaughn always lived a life that was upbeat and encouraging. Her husband, whom I’m named after, died when my father was 11, and she had five children to raise. She went to work in a textile mill working double shifts to make ends meet, and never in my life do I remember hearing her complain! She loved Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and Oral Roberts, and would encourage us, “Something Good is Going to Happen To You!” and “Be positive!”
She had a positive outlook and would encourage you, not complain about the past, how hard it was in the present, or the dreary lack of hope in the future.
Its foolish to become known as a complainer. After many posts and too many whines no one listens anyway.
FOOLISH POST 3+: “Telling the world how much you dislike people.”
If you are a nurse, doctor, therapist, life coach, minister, pastor, parent, motivational speaker, etc… and you come out routinely and publicly how much people get on your nerves, it will undermine your effectiveness in your field of influence. EVERYONE deals with people, EVERYONE encounters rude people, and EVERYONE has to deal with the issues of life. Whenever you act like you are the ONLY ONE, it only goes to remind the adults in the room that you aren’t.
Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
Next time you start to make a post – look at a picture of your Grandmother and ask yourself if she would make that post!
PS: If you wonder why there are 3+ posts… proud you noticed, a Facebook fool wouldn’t have…
#facebookfoolishness