Two days ago I deleted my facebook account. Before that time I had been a facebook addict. Several times a day I would go there to read posts, post my own thoughts and play games. (I will miss the games the most because imo they had the best games). Why did I leave the answer is simple for a couple of reasons. It was taking a great deal of time, time I could never get back. But more importantly it was creating the kind of life for me I did not want. I did not like the person I was becomming as a result of my time on the site. I saw rants and raves along with inappropriate personal material that left me wondering about my own character not to mention the character of others. I guess it was seeing very private things discussed in a very public forum.
But the thing that disturbed me the most was I found myself falling into the same trap. For example in reading another's blog he told the story about a man who pulled over by the police who suspected him of driving under the influence. All the time he was being tested (which he was too drunk to complete) he kept shouting I am an american I have freedom, you can't tell me what to do. For many that is what freedom means I can do what ever I want when I want and you can not tell me what to do.
As long as we take such an approach to life anything I do is permissible. I can say what I want when I want to whom I want. When we take that approach life turns into one big shouting match where the loudest voice is what is heard.
We are living in a society that is made up of many different opinions, cultures, races and religions. Somehow we have gotten to the point that my opinion is the only one that matters. I believe we have learned this lesson from our current political mindset.
What I have concluded from my facebook experience is the world is filled with a lot of hurting people who have no voice except for cyberspace. They lash out with the hope that someone will listen, but most of the time they receive shout outs back either pro or con which causes an escalation in the rhetoric.
I hope from my action to treat all people with more civility. To enter into more face to face dialogue where ideas can be discussed pro and con to my own opinion and can work together toward solution which will benefit society as a whole and not just me.