Okay, so this post is a little different, but it is stemming from a thought I had recently. Do status posts (such as those on Facebook) have any deep purpose? Can God use them? For those who might not know, status posts is where one states his/her current status. For instance, my current status is this: "Joshua is run... though bruised and bloodied, you are not done... run." Lately, this is how I like to use my status. I want to say something that conveys an idea, that is therapeutic for me, that makes one think, and that is art. I would rather not say something that is just a fact, such as, "Joshua is working out" or "Joshua is at school" or "Joshua is hanging out with friends." It's not that I'm against telling people what I'm doing... I think that can be good, but far more intimate is telling your friends what you are thinking.
Someone may ask, "Well, your not just sharing that info with your closest friends. You are sharing it with everyone you have "friended on Facebook." True and for me that amount of people is in the 200 range. However, that doesn't bother me. Even if I shared something more serious like "Joshua is depressed." Why? Because those who don't care, I don't care much about what they think and those who do care, I went to see how I am feeling and what I am thinking.
Now, I think some feel uncomfortable with the idea of broadcasting your emotions in such an open way. Shouldn't we all be sharing such things with family or close friends? Yes. However, I don't think that saying "Joshua is depressed" on my status is such a bad way to do that. (Take note though that I don't know if I've ever actually said something that blatant.) I believe there are advantages to saying such things on one's status. 1. The friends that can help and do care can choose to find out what is going on. 2. The friends who aren't interested in finding out what is going on or who can't handle sharing that burden, can choose to not go into it rather than getting stuck in a difficult situation where someone is sharing a burden with them that they can't handle at the time.
Now that I have shared my thoughts, I would LOVE to hear yours. Are status posts good or bad? What is appropriate to write on them. Do you think they should be used as therapy/a place to vent? Also, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on my current status.
9 comments:
I think I agree with you for the most part. Statuses are the quickest and easiest way to give others updates about your life, and to find out the highlights (or lowlights) of what your friends are experiencing.
Some uses I use my status for:
Sharing something really cool or unusual I did
Sharing a link that I think is important for others to read (or sharing a really good post on my blog or something)
Sharing something funny or witty that will bring a smile to my friend's faces
or, of course, something deep and/or emotional that convays what I'm feeling at the moment.
I do try to be somewhat careful of what I write on the emotional side, because I don't want to be "asking for pity" or looking like a depressed person all the time. I think once in awhile it's okay, but it's rather depressing for other people to constantly see that your status is in a depressing state. Unless you really are always in a depressing state, I think it's good to keep your status changing.
The one thing I think you should never, never use your status for (and I think you would definetely agree with this) is to post anything that would hurt or degrad or slander another person. The best way to do this is to never post a status in anger (other than something like fustration at the library fine system....which isn't going to hurt the library. ;) )
Thanks for your input Elena! :)
My emotional statuses do not neccesarily reflect my exact emotion... though they probably do reflect whether I'm on a high or low. However, instead of saying, "I'm depressed," I try to say something with a point...something to that is healing to me and that hopefully makes myself and others think.
I totally agree that statuses should never be used to tear down anyone. I think there is only one status I have ever written that I might want to take back. The issue was that it was a matter made public that probably should have been private.
Anyway, I am a big fan of statuses. They have been a blessing in my life in many ways.
Hey,
I mostly agree with Elanatintil...There is a fine line between complaining and asking for pity and just being open and honest. I tend to be more private about what's going on in my life...but I'm not opposed to others using statuses as a way to let other people know what they are going through. After all, what good is a community if we don't come around each other in times of need?
Hey Josh...Janny here. Good post. :) I believe I agree with you. And I love the statuses you've been posting lately. Even though I seldom comment on them (er...have I ever?) I do read them and am usually encouraged by them.
As for my own statuses...mostly I like to keep it upbeat. I very very very rarely will use it to let people know I'm upset. Like yesterday--it wasn't the best day for me. In fact it was downright bad, and I was lonely, but I chose to leave up "Janny is happy" because I didn't want to be seen as someone looking for sympathy. Besides, some of those who would have comforted me had I changed my status were online and did so anyway.
Of course, for me I think it's different. In the past I HAVE been known to seek out sympathy from others, via my status. So now that I'm past that point (immaturity, methinks) I'm trying to avoid it completely. I could be wrong about the way I look at things, but for now I think it's best. I wasted two years of my life being sad (one being sad, a second convincing people I WASN'T sad!), and am now reverting to the exact opposite.
And that was really long. :P Guess I'm talkative today...
Leaving now. Love your blog.
Thanks for your comments guys! Great to hear from you Janny! I hope you will continue to visit my blog. :)
I know how you feel Ella. I have spent way too much of my life looking on the dark side of things... focusing on all that was wrong rather than all that was right. Often I put of a hopeful status when I'm feeling the most discouraged. I don't generally want to just blatantly say there is something wrong in my life, but like I said before: my statuses often do reflect what I am feeling. I like to find a positive and often hopeful way to address these issues.
Thanks again! :)
My wife and I spent nearly $80,000 on the education of my children in a certain sport. They became elite in their discipline and were odds on favorites to become state champions. One was absolutely the best the state had to offer in the sport her senior year, the best! No brag, a statistical fact. Some who read this blog may know who and what I am talking about. I will go no further with specifics and if you know, please do not post anything specifics yourself about the situation. Not only was our live's fortune tied up in thier education and success, but so was our hearts, the hearts of parents who love (agape) their children totally.
One day, a week before what turned out to be the final competitions of their lives, an anonymous individual downloaded a photograph of them doing something that was "inappropriate" relative to the athletic requirements of the state (from Facebook). The individual took the photo, placed it in an envelop, and delivered it to the school's athletic director. The result was immediate expulsion from the program with no opportunity for appeal. One 250th of one second of their lives, caught on a digital camera, destroyed 12 years, or 144 months, or 4,380 days, or 378,432,000.00 seconds of living, or thousands of hours of hard physical and mental work, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and financial committment. There were no college scouts, no scholarship offers, NOTHING. Just, "So, sorry."
So, young people...be careful what you do on the Internet. Though you say, Josh, that you have 200 friends listed, you are not garanteed personal security. Once you hit the send button, the "PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT" button, on any web based program or service, it becomes public domain. YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THOSE WORDS, PICTURES, THOUGHTS FOREVER AND EVER. AND DON'T BE FOOLED THAT THE DELETE BUTTON IS YOUR SAVIOR, BECAUSE NOTHING IS EVER REALLY DELETED. IF THERE ARE THOSE SMART ENOUGH AND MEAN ENOUGH TO 'GET IT BACK!'and, if someone out there wants to injure you for any reason, just or unjust, your thoughts can and will be used against you. It could be forty years from now! Further warning goes to the reality that much of what you say can be used in a most distorted fashion. You may, some time in the future, find yourself held back, opportunities stolen from you, because someone used your own words, your fun pictures, the innocent thoughts you had, the words typed in a time of vulnerability, against you in a distorted way.
Oh, heck! You guys are all so young and I am just an old guy with a warning that surely won't affect you if you ignore it. Anyway, you know more about the Internet and the digital word than we parents do. "It" only happens to others. NOT!
See how you can lose control. My name is on my comment. The specifics I don't want spread around are names and dates of kids, schools, ect. Now, OH MY GOSH! I've been found out, maybe. It is so easy to be hurt with the Internet. It is a good thing but it can be used for evil. Though it is, in itself, neutral, people are not. Be careful!
Oh, by the way, I did know all along that I was being VERY transparent. Just thought it would be good to demonstrate the potential dangers that can come back to haunt you. It took less time to take the picture of my children than it took me to publish the first comment of mine. The difference is that I had time to do a little proof reading.
I think your warning is well given Bruce... though I can't say that anything (except maybe one thing) that I have put on Facebook I regret.
Bruce says, just be cautious. Scripture tells us to focus on the good and healthy things of life, does it not. If we do this in our spirits then we have a God given safety net. Those healthy things placed upon the surf of the digital world will probably bear good friut and are not to be feared. However, we are all broken and sometimes our hearts are sad and we feel alone. At times like these it is best to not salve such pain in the virtual world, but rather seek out trusted counsel, a close friend, or a loving parent. It is one thing to discuss life's great concepts; it is totally another thing to bear ones soul. Inner most thoughts...well, perhaps there is a reason they are inner most.
Just be careful out there. It is a big and potentially mean world we live in.
Said in love, with the greatest of respect.
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