I Feel A Rant Coming On

As a general rule I try to limit my posts on this blog to my life and excursions on the farm. Animals, kids, gardening, cooking and canning. These skills and the relationships with my family are the things that fill my day. However, in recent days I have had a subject come up repeatedly that I just feel the need to voice. Several days ago I got a call from a dear friend that I have known since second grade. She and I were thicker than thieves in grade school and high school. She was maid of honor in my wedding and I in hers. The short is we have been together forever. Recently after having raised both of her children to adulthood she and her husband have purchased a cabin up in the mountains of Tennessee. With a masters in education she continues to work but is now enjoying her years together with just she and her husband. We conversed for quite awhile catching up on each others children and grandchildren, parents and siblings. But the part of our conversation that stuck with me was that she complained since buying her new house in the mountains of being isolated because she couldn't get Facebook or cell phone reception at her new home. I immediately remembered the days when we were both young mothers living half way across the country from one another sending funny postcards to each other.



 When was the last time you got a postcard? Or sent one?

 I remembered the fun we had writing letters and sending pictures of our kids back and forth and the joy of opening that mailbox and hanging on her every word. When did our connection to the outside world become exclusively linked to Facebook or a cell phone?


My next encounter with this subject was with my son, the youngest of three, who is still single. In his early thirties and out there in the dating circles. He called for my birthday and when I asked about dating he complained  of being unable to find a date that wanted to actually spend time with him and not be on the cell phone during dinner, the movies or any other time they were together. Who was constantly taking pictures during their dates with their phone and sending them to her girlfriends via her phone. AT the end of dates you can always go to her Facebook page and find an evaluation of the date...his kissing skills...or their entire private conversations out there for the world to read. And even a rating of their date from one to ten.

Wow no pressure there, I sure am glad I am married!

My next encounter was actually on my Facebook page where I logged on for the first time in 2 weeks to individually thank all those who took the time to wish me a Happy Birthday. One of the first posts that I encounter is from a dear friend of many years who is also a double PhD instructor at a major state university. This was her post to all her friends and students on her page:

To all my friends, a little warning from a conference I was at last week...when you post on Facebook, 4 copies are made of every post. These will never ever go away. Employers DO READ FACEBOOK and other Social Media before they even consider an applicant or an interview. Be sure to remind all of your students, your friends and family of this because their future may be directly impacted by one or two statements or pictures.

At the risk of sounding like my mother:

a.) if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.
b.) if you can't say something to a person's face maybe it just doesn't need to be said AT ALL

This issue just keeps raising it's ugly head. Yesterday I read a blog of a blogger friend who talks of her depression and contributed some to Facebook and her seeking of acceptance or approval from people reading her posts.. Today I read of a wreck with two fatalities from someone driving and texting. And the list goes on. So I am making some statements to throw out there for thought. You don't have to agree with me. Just stop and think.

I have never had a phone conversation with anyone (text included) that is worth endangering the life of myself, my children or grandchildren riding with me and any other human being out there on the road with me. Turn the phone off my kids are out there on the road with you.

Turn off that phone or computer and take a walk, grow a garden or just hug your husband, boyfriend, dog or child. Do you really require being connected every minute of your waking hours.

I come from the old school in that what happens behind closed doors is private and not meant to be bandied about. I don't care to hear about your sex life, your underwear color, your bra size, penis size, bathroom habits or anything else along those lines. I find it offensive and embarrassing for both of us. Too much information. The list of people that I hide continues to grow : )

I am an old woman and there are very few people in this life that I seek acceptance and/or approval from other than my God and maybe my family, and very few of them are on Facebook.



Don't get me wrong I do go on Facebook at least once a week. I enjoy seeing my children's lives in pictures. I enjoy being a part of things. I enjoy visiting with my grandchildren. That cell phone has been a lifesaver for those flat tires and car breakdowns, checking on the teenager that is at home after school or calling from the hospital. It is a valuable tool in moderation.

But like everything else in life use it responsibly.

In the immortal words of my parents.

If you sweep around your own door and keep it clean you won't have time to sweep around anyone else's!

Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter