A few days ago, I saw a friend of mine at a monthly dance
that we typically attend. She said that she was glad to see me and that she
wondered where I had been. I told her that we had been out of town for the past
three weeks, as my father had recently passed away. She said that she had had
no idea, and offered her condolences.
It was the next thing that came out of her mouth that amused
me, and prompted me to write this post. She simply stated, in a matter of fact
manner, “I guess that I missed it on Facebook.” I cracked up and she looked at me as though I
were from the moon; I simply stated, in a matter of fact manner, “I guess that
I neglected to post it on Facebook!”
While I truly believe that Facebook is a terrific way to
communicate and share our lives, sometimes, some things may either be just too
difficult, or too personal to share. I understand that there are/were a great
many people that I could have reached on Facebook, that would have liked to
have known of my father’s death, but somehow I just did not feel as though I
could do his passing justice, in a Facebook post.
Our society has changed so drastically with the explosion of
the internet that we often post things so quickly, on Facebook, that we do not
consider the consequences. When I was first diagnosed with Leukemia, I called
my oldest child first; my second next; and then I planned to call my youngest,
when he got home from school.
My daughter, fully entrenched in the ways of the internet,
quickly put out a post for prayers and support, for me; it was only a few
minutes later that she realized what she had done and quickly removed the post.
It was already too late; the news had gone viral, and my youngest, found out
that his mother had Leukemia; on Facebook!
Of course we laugh about it now, and I often wonder how I
would ever keep up with all of the trials and triumphs of my children and
grandchildren, if it weren't for Facebook; but it can sometimes be alarming
when you see an x-ray with a basketball needle in you grandson’s gut, or hear
about your granddaughter’s broken arm; on Facebook. These “events” have prompted
our family to become MUCH better at informing our immediate family of mishaps;
before hitting the “post” button; and I find that a good thing!
So while Facebook allows us to share our lives with friends
and family, near and far, and to connect with strangers with common interests, illnesses
and ideas; it may or may not be the first and foremost place, and manner, in
which to share pertinent information. Before hitting “post” you may wish to
consider the subject of your information, the manner in which you are
delivering it, and how it may, or may not, affect any one that may receive it.
In my opinion, Facebook is not the Be All; End All, but it definitely
has its’ place on this planet! With that being said, I may soon be ready to
share my father’s passing; on Facebook.
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