Facebook According to Real Simple

I have a subscription to Real Simple magazine. I have had several magazine subscriptions over the years (Seventeen, you'll be missed...) but my favorite by far has been the one Matt got for me this year, Real Simple. I've gotten a lot of recipe and decorating ideas from it, and overall just good advice. There was an article that I have to share parts of with you titled "Social Disgrace" because it's sooo true! I love Facebook, especially now that every one from college and family has gone their own separate ways and it's a great way to keep in contact and just know what's going on. Well, on the other side, some people just act a fool on Facebook and it needs to be stopped! Actually, it's sort of entertaining, but also saddening. So here's some highlights from the article:

What's the most annoying kind of Facebook update?
24%- Intentionally vague posts meant to generate concern and attention; aka vaguebooking "Jennifer wonders whether it's all been worth it" or my personal favorite "Some people really make me so upset and they're not worth my time" OR OR "I'm going to quit Facebook"- where they try to get people to tell them not to. Then a month later they're back. And then they delete it again! Make up your mind. we're not calling you off the ledge here. It's not that big of a deal.

20%- Chronic complaining
19%- Meaningless calls to action "If you want to fight world hunger, put the color of your socks as your status update for the next half hour. I want to see who is brave enough to take a stand"
Don't even get ME started
14%- Over sharing. Like when people tell the world about the details of their divorce. Or their labor. With pictures Up to the minute.
13%- Miscellaneous posts including polarizing religious beliefs or political statements, indecipherable txt spk, and game updates. Want a one way ticket to being defriended by Shanna? Ask me to join FarmVille.
10%- Posting too frequently. "12:03 Chicken salad or tuna? 12:10 Chicken it is! Thanks for the input!"

A note of vulgarity:

"If it's not something that you would say on national TV, the best strategy is not to post it. Dozens of survey responses specifically mentioned swearing as a turnoff... For R-rated commentary, use the messenger"

Did you know that the average user has 130 friends?

Photos we would rather not see:

Multiple PDA photos
Every single one of the 3668 blurry shots that you took of the Grand Canyon
What you are eating/are about to eat/ have eaten (I'm not sure I agree with this one)
Self portraits in the bathroom mirror (AMEN!)
Inebriated people
Shirtless people
Endless baby pictures
Profile pictures of pets, cartoon characters, or anything that isn't the person in the picture (I say to each his own on this one)
Duck Face (guilty)

I'm not saying that I'm not guilty of some of these things (especially when I was younger), but I think I have around 700 facebook "friends" and I and everyone else need to think twice about what we're putting out there. I really try to live by the rule, "Would this compromise a political career one day?" I really think the party of Shanna is going to catch on one day, and I need to be prepared when that comes around.

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