Facebook... Oh Facebook...

It was so much fun at first. Imagine, being reconnected with people you have not seen for decades! Suddenly, everyone's in one place and they are just a click away.

I blogged less and FB'd more... Heck, I got hooked and spent more time in there than necessary. I played addicting games and interacted with long-lost friends. I "liked" almost all posts that appeared on my News Feed and left comments where I agreed most. I appreciated that I didn't get to miss any of my friends' birthdays.

Never mind if there were sarcastic posts or comments... They seemed funny at that time...

Until one day, I realized that those biting posts were meant for other friends... probably in retaliation for something that happened between them or, simply, to just get nasty. The "likes" became some sort of a loyalty check- "hey, whose side are you on?"

People started forcing their own opinions down their friends' throats. R-E-S-P-E-C-T became a thing of the past. Instead of cheerful exchanges, you now see long threads of debates and arguments that are not even close to being friendly.

It was in Facebook where I got embroiled in my so-called-friends' histrionics and hysterics. People openly aired their dirty laundry... For sympathy? For "Likes"? For goading? For the "Rah! Rah! Rah! Sis Boom Bah!" cheers? You tell me!  I guess there are some people who really get a kick out of it and enjoy the attention.

Gone were the days when my News Feed fed me uplifting, funny and positive posts to start my day right. Rants, protests, opinionated/ judgmental elucidations, bashing, bullying... ahhhh, too many of them now. I must admit I myself succumbed to the temptation (of posting my negative thoughts and opinions) a number of times in the past.

And so... one day, I decided to deactivate, thus, disconnecting myself from more than 500 "friends" and a big number (I lost count) of friends requests (those I decided to ignore).

However, I am not saying I am rejecting Facebook altogether. This time though, I already know the people who matter most to me and with whom I truly want to stay connected with.

I never felt better! ;)

Now, the sun shines on...

Blessings to all of you!

Image credit: Lauren Huston

Facebook Mania and High School Buddies

I never thought I'd get hooked. I was content with Twitter posting my updates (including shoutouts) in my Facebook profile wall. I would check out and try new crazy quizzes and applications from time to time, say hi to some friends and... that's it...

Until my high school buddies started posting our "vintage" photos... That did the trick!

Now there is no day when I wouldn't check the long thread of comments below each of these photos. Even at work, I would sneak into FB for a few minutes and see what my former classmates and batchmates are discussing (and who's being "roasted").

I can't count the times when I silently laughed behind my work desk after reading and joining in those silly banters. From skinny jeans (80's version), shower scenes to hair lice... everyone has something to say. "Skeletons" were unraveled to the delight of the group.

I must thank Facebook for getting us to interact and reconnect with each other after many years. I have not seen most of these friends since high school graduation and that was- OMG!!!- 26 years ago!

HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 80'S... SWEET MEMORIES

Photo credits: Thanks to HS buddies Tina and Dulce for taking us to a trip down memory lane through these "vintage" photos. As I said, they are timeless and priceless now.