Perhaps a little self-censoring is okay from time to time

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Perhaps a little self-censoring is okay from time to time

July 17, 2009 by Liebchen

I’m a little bit confused – and it has to do with Facebook.

See, when I first signed up, many moons ago (fine, five years – I don’t know how many moons that is), it was limited to college students. It was very basic – no crazy bells and whistles, and not nearly as much advertising of your personal life. But, even if we were (too) open, it was still limited to our peers.

Then, Facebook eventually opened up, and I began to get friend requests from old campers of mine – who were still in high school. And then came the parents, reuniting with their old high school/college friends and friending their children. I don’t have a problem with being friends with both of my parents on Facebook. (Yes, both of them. My dad shocked everyone when he figured it out all by himself – and even posted a profile picture.)

That's him on the right - 60+ years ago...

Anyway, they’re more than welcome to look at my photos with the understanding that if there’s something they don’t like, there’s really not a whole lot they can say. Because I am an adult (for all intents and purposes [side note: for the longest time, I thought it was "all intensive purposes." Oops.]).

BUT, I keep thinking – if I were still underage and friends with my parents? I would be a lot more careful with what photos I put up, what I made public and what my status updates were. Which is why it surprised me when I saw the status update of my 20-year-old niece:

“stupid stupid stupid underage consumption while being in the passanger seat kiss my ass!” (Yes, the misspelling bothers me.)

1) I know you’re friends with your mom. Did you tell her before she saw your status?

2) When did it become normal to post run-ins with the law, however minor they might be? Hers is not the first I’ve seen. When my friends and I were younger, getting an underage was something we talked about amongst ourselves at the lunch table, not broadcasted in a public forum.

3) Does this just mean that I’m getting old?

misusing_slang

Listen, I like Facebook as much as the next person, but you can bet that if I ever get arrested (God forbid), I will NOT be writing about it on my wall.

A blog post, however, is a different story…

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged did you really want to know that?, growing up, kids say the darndest things, say what?, sometimes i wonder how i'm a functioning adult | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on July 17, 2009 at 11:26 am Marie

I don’t think I’d ever do that if I were underage and my parents were on FB. It’s a nice excuse to get busted by them too.

I saw that my 13 year old cousin is on FB and her profile picture is of her and some guy close to her age with her all dressed up (as 13 year olds do these days??). I believe I yelled at the computer screen “WTF?!” She will be getting a talking to when I see her this summer.

That’s how I felt when I saw my campers on Facebook. And when I saw their party photos. And then I wished I’d never looked.
on July 17, 2009 at 11:37 am Matt

Um? How come we arent facebook friends?

Boo.

I can’t think of a good reason. Let’s fix that, yes?
on July 17, 2009 at 11:51 am Beach Bum

I blocked my mom from all my status updates. Easy enough. Not that I’m underage (hahaha, not even close), but I don’t want to have her see all my bitching!

Ha – that’s a smart move. I mostly don’t care enough to block my parents. And it’s kind of pointless now that they’re friends with some of my friends, too.
on July 17, 2009 at 12:03 pm Patrick

I know why ePod and I aren’t Facebook friends, because I have a policy of not adding friends that I haven’t met IRL. Sorry ePod.

Now about Facebook, I think that social networking has lifted all sorts of social boundaries, so I don’t think it’s us getting old- but it’s a new generation that’s ok with sharing everything and anything.

I had a blogger pal blog that he was in a car accident… from the Ambulance.

I think you’re definitely right about the boundaries – or lack thereof. It just takes some getting used to – particularly when it’s family.

And we’ll work on this IRL thing. One of these days…
on July 17, 2009 at 2:32 pm Fearless

This is why cameras should be banned from bars. And why I run from cameras whenever I am in a bar.
on July 17, 2009 at 3:19 pm anth

I thought it was all intensive purposes too. I even thought that people using all intents and purposes were doing it wrong. They both kind of make sense don’t they?
on July 17, 2009 at 8:39 pm miss. chief

i don’t care who sees what… i’m an open book
face…book
get it?

no?

me neither
on July 19, 2009 at 10:31 am LiLu

I am incredibly grateful for the LIMITED PROFILE. All I’m saying
on July 20, 2009 at 10:25 am Sara

Reason # 87 why I am not on Facebook
on July 20, 2009 at 11:02 am Why Facebook and I are not friends « If I had to pick five

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