Facebook Withdrawal - A Social Experiment Part II

I had mixed feelings being off Facebook. I mostly experienced positive feelings, including being free from the constant draw of the notifications, free from the negative, political, grammar-destroying posts (although that latter category does provide hours of laughter and enjoyment), and free from being inundated by incorrect information that somehow spreads so rapidly.

I missed some things, though.

Interestingly enough, the thing I missed the absolute most was the "bulletin board" aspect of Facebook. At one point, I needed to find a specific type of vendor. I would have "posted" that on my FB wall and found one immediately. I had to do a lot more work and research without Facebook.

I missed a few specific people's posts. I realized that what I read and value most are the informative posts where I highly respect the writer's opinion about current events.

Those two things, almost exclusively, brought me back to Facebook, on a personal level.

The other, primary, reason I came back was due to a professional obligation (but a nice one). I'm currently the administrator on my work account and I needed to monitor and post on my company page.

When I first came back, I stayed quiet - not posting, not liking, just reading posts from my favorite person(s).

Don't get me wrong. I do read some of the posts from close family and close friends where they're sharing their news and social activities... but those didn't bring me back. I have a relationship with them so I hear about those things from them directly. (That's a wonderful thing.)

I also read and love the random trivia and hilariousness that people share... but that didn't bring me back. I already happily live in a world of random trivia and hilariousness.

One thing was fascinating... I was surprised to find that some of my friends and family were not happy, to the point of being angry and argumentative, that I was no longer on Facebook.

Some people even took it personally, assuming I'd unfriended or blocked them. Facebook has absolutely too much power!

Others, of course, completely understood. They'd been considering a hiatus or deactivation themselves.

Overall, I've learned that Facebook can be comforting, like a good friend. There's always someone up and commenting, even in the wee hours. Plus, right or wrong, through Facebook, I do hear about important things happening in my family and friends' lives.

One of the most important reasons I came back was hearing from my friends that they missed my posts. They said I frequently inspired them with what I write. That alone makes coming back worth it.

I was missed as much as I missed others. That is definitely heart-warming.

Constantly Thinking...but not constantly thinking about posting...

Scandal: The Loss of a Faithful Viewer

The last episode of "Scandal" lost me as a viewer.

Not because of the on-air abortion, although I found it horrific.

Not because of the Planned Parenthood push, which I felt was too heavy-handed.

I realize that "Scandal" caters to an extremely liberal audience. You can tell by their subject matter and how far they push the envelope.

I've been able to still enjoy the show, even though that's not me. I'm an independent. I have both liberal and conservative views.

However, this week they lost me as a viewer because they destroyed the things I loved most about the show: Olivia's intelligence, her decision to always (try to) choose right over self-interest, and the seemingly true and undying love that she and Fitz shared.

• She aborted a baby from the supposed love of her life, without telling him. That's a huge betrayal of love and trust.
• She wasn't smart enough to understand that her decision to be with him meant doing the things she found boring (even though Mellie warned her). Based on her character, she should have been intelligent enough to know what would happen even if not warned.
• She couldn't appreciate his attempt to love and protect her in the way he knew how.

Fitz forgave her for what many deemed the unforgivable, because he trusted her. "They" were the team. If she said it was necessary, he believed her. That's what a relationship is supposed to be.

He was exactly right in his characterization of her. She didn't really want a commitment. She preferred him unavailable. I'm sure Daddy issues contributed to her mindset in this regard, but she was "Olivia Pope." She was the one who could rise above it all.

But she didn't.

I will no longer watch "Scandal" because in this mid-season finale episode, Olivia Pope became someone I can no longer respect, admire, like or trust.

The writers chose to depict her as selfish, unloving, unintelligent and unworthy of wearing the white hat. All that I admired is gone.

I'm done.

Heart-Sick Over Evil

Thinking about former friends and former loves today...with a bit of sadness in my heart.

This is one of those days when I miss what I thought we had... true love, true friendship, a real relationship.

I miss the friend I believed you were.

I miss the love that seemed real at the time.

I miss the closeness we seemed to share.

All I can say is it was real to me, then and now. If you were just playing, just toying with me, just using me and my love or my friendship, shame on you. That's kind of evil. You'll have to live with that.

What I felt was true. What I gave was real. My love, my friendship was sincere.

Of course, if I had to do it all over again, eyes wide open, knowing what I know now, I'd walk away before my heart ever became engaged, before I ever extended my friendship and my love to you.

The good thing is that I learned from it all so I have no regrets.

I've learned that there are really good sincere people out there. I've learned that there are true friends who know how to both give and take. I've learned that there are truly noble, faithful, wonderful men in the world.

People who are fakers, takers, insincere, liars, and cheaters try to convince you that everyone is that way. Here's a tip: They're wrong. The reason they think that is because that's their circle. Everyone they associate with... falls into their category. They're surrounded by people just like them.

That's their choice. I've chosen a different path.

I choose the path of sincerity, true friendship, faithfulness, truthfulness and love. It is because of that choice that my heart hurts today. My heart hurts for what I thought we had, what we could have had.

My heart is a muscle, though. It will heal and keep on loving.

Constantly Thinking...and making better choices...