- 1,399
- Jakarta
I have a statement to make that may shock the majority of you.
I do not have, or use, a Facebook account.
The idea of this thread just came to my mind as I encountered a question similar to that I've already heard many times. Earlier today, I was asked whether I'm active on Facebook. After saying that I don't have an account, I received expressions of shock in return, with one of them gasping. Asked why, I proceeded to answer something like, "I don't feel the need to tell everyone what I'm doing every ten seconds", which sounded irrational, as having a Facebook account doesn't require you to do that. Perhaps I was fed up with the recurring thought in my mind, which was something like, "It seems like I'm being judged badly for this...", leading me to speak such irrationality. Then I got a reply like the following, "That's true, you don't need to tell everyone what you're doing every ten seconds, but you can tell them...once in a few days?" I proceeded to say something like, "It's not really a necessity, after all. There are other means to communicate, like e-mail and other things." One of the people I was communicating with, not someone that I meet often, then asked whether I do text messaging. I answered, "Yes, of course."
Well, basically, I'm not using it because I don't feel the need to. I don't really take pictures that often and so it's unlikely for me to post or share them in a timely manner. I also lack interest in publicly posting updates on what I'm doing, feeling, or what I'm up to in a timely manner. Simply, I don't feel that I will use it that much. And what's gonna be the point of having one but not using it? It will be the same as before, more or less, but maybe people will judge you less negatively.
I think not having a Facebook account isn't as extreme as, say, refusing to use a phone when you're more than financially capable enough to maintain one and pay the service. Refusing to use a phone these days, (or one kind of electronic medium with a similar main function) will make you extremely out of touch with the society, and you're missing out on any possibility of long-distance communication - you're highly disadvantaged in terms of efficiency. But just not having a Facebook account doesn't necessarily take away such possibility.
I know, it doesn't hurt to start having one, and it will open up positive new possibilities, such as maybe searching for a long-lost acquaintance and finding him or her. (if you do encounter a case like that) It provides another selectable medium for communication with the majority of people.
Still, it seems that the incentive isn't very appealing or useful to me.
I've been googling about this matter, and I've received answers like how those who don't use Facebook will be deemed suspicious, or how a hiring manager expects people not using it as socially awkward, making him or her to not consider employing them. The latter is kinda relevant to me. In real life, I am socially awkward, after all. I am shy, quiet and reserved, I rarely start conversations, I'm mostly straight-faced and expressionless, I don't really force myself to smile, sometimes I stutter and get my words mixed up, etc. Still, that doesn't sound like a direct correlation to me.
I understand that a lot of people are using it, but does it really mean you have to join the bandwagon? Do you guys feel like this is a highly distinctive case, in which you just have to follow the majority's perception that having one is a staple of this modern-day, tech-influenced life? Also, is there any of you out there also not using Facebook?
You can post whatever thoughts you have in relation to the thread's title.
EDIT: Thanks for the input and feedback, guys. I feel better to see that many people think it's not much of an issue.
I guess in the general sense of things, it's barely a necessity. It ultimately depends on the circumstances you're in. If the details of an organizational activity you're interested in are only posted on Facebook, then it's not an option to not be there.
Thanks for taking your time to post various explanations regarding this case.
I do not have, or use, a Facebook account.
The idea of this thread just came to my mind as I encountered a question similar to that I've already heard many times. Earlier today, I was asked whether I'm active on Facebook. After saying that I don't have an account, I received expressions of shock in return, with one of them gasping. Asked why, I proceeded to answer something like, "I don't feel the need to tell everyone what I'm doing every ten seconds", which sounded irrational, as having a Facebook account doesn't require you to do that. Perhaps I was fed up with the recurring thought in my mind, which was something like, "It seems like I'm being judged badly for this...", leading me to speak such irrationality. Then I got a reply like the following, "That's true, you don't need to tell everyone what you're doing every ten seconds, but you can tell them...once in a few days?" I proceeded to say something like, "It's not really a necessity, after all. There are other means to communicate, like e-mail and other things." One of the people I was communicating with, not someone that I meet often, then asked whether I do text messaging. I answered, "Yes, of course."
Well, basically, I'm not using it because I don't feel the need to. I don't really take pictures that often and so it's unlikely for me to post or share them in a timely manner. I also lack interest in publicly posting updates on what I'm doing, feeling, or what I'm up to in a timely manner. Simply, I don't feel that I will use it that much. And what's gonna be the point of having one but not using it? It will be the same as before, more or less, but maybe people will judge you less negatively.
I think not having a Facebook account isn't as extreme as, say, refusing to use a phone when you're more than financially capable enough to maintain one and pay the service. Refusing to use a phone these days, (or one kind of electronic medium with a similar main function) will make you extremely out of touch with the society, and you're missing out on any possibility of long-distance communication - you're highly disadvantaged in terms of efficiency. But just not having a Facebook account doesn't necessarily take away such possibility.
I know, it doesn't hurt to start having one, and it will open up positive new possibilities, such as maybe searching for a long-lost acquaintance and finding him or her. (if you do encounter a case like that) It provides another selectable medium for communication with the majority of people.
Still, it seems that the incentive isn't very appealing or useful to me.
I've been googling about this matter, and I've received answers like how those who don't use Facebook will be deemed suspicious, or how a hiring manager expects people not using it as socially awkward, making him or her to not consider employing them. The latter is kinda relevant to me. In real life, I am socially awkward, after all. I am shy, quiet and reserved, I rarely start conversations, I'm mostly straight-faced and expressionless, I don't really force myself to smile, sometimes I stutter and get my words mixed up, etc. Still, that doesn't sound like a direct correlation to me.
I understand that a lot of people are using it, but does it really mean you have to join the bandwagon? Do you guys feel like this is a highly distinctive case, in which you just have to follow the majority's perception that having one is a staple of this modern-day, tech-influenced life? Also, is there any of you out there also not using Facebook?
You can post whatever thoughts you have in relation to the thread's title.
EDIT: Thanks for the input and feedback, guys. I feel better to see that many people think it's not much of an issue.
I guess in the general sense of things, it's barely a necessity. It ultimately depends on the circumstances you're in. If the details of an organizational activity you're interested in are only posted on Facebook, then it's not an option to not be there.
Thanks for taking your time to post various explanations regarding this case.
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