Dropping Facebook

There's a problem with Joomla (the sites program) showing an account as "Banned" if it's deactivated. Sometimes "Banned" means banned but not always. For example there's been cases of Members accounts being hijacked and they're deactivated until we can communicate with the person so they can reset their password. The person is not banned but they show that way.

I think if deleting Facebook is what you need to do to take care of yourself, then it's what you need to do. There's no absoluteness about whether or not Facebook is evil.

Several years ago my childhood best friend and I deleted our Facebook accounts. This was kind of a big deal since I've been using Facebook since the days when it was still just for college students. I also deleted my MySpace, Xanga, and LiveJournal accounts. I wanted people to engage with me authentically, but what I found was that people were still just as shallow and in many cases it meant that it was harder for my friends to keep me in the loop about stuff they were doing... It was always, "Oh yeah, I almost forgot about [birth name]. I hate that they don't have a Facebook!"

I've definitely seen the need to take breaks from Facebook, but that mostly has to do with not wasting time browsing. Ever since I took a management level position at a university, I've had to tone down what I say on Facebook because ultra-polemical stuff is frowned upon. I'm also not supposed to say overly critical stuff about the university because it makes them look bad when their staff (even student staff) are being too critical (if you ask me, it's a bit too Big Brother for me). My point is that since I took the job I've found my Facebook experience to not be quite so toxic. Granted, since taking this job I've cut a lot of toxic people out of my life, but... Eh, I think there's so much that factors into what your experience of Facebook is. Mine is mostly positive these days. Sometimes Facebook tries to pull a fast on me and coerce me into using my legal name, but you know... I take these things in stride and deal with them when they come.

My point was, (which was obviously missed), was all I had to do was request I wanted my account deleted, and action was immediately taken. I am in no way complaining, I needed the time away to sort things out. Kohadre on the other hand has brought it up, asked for deletion and still, here he is, for which I am glad. Kohadre, the Temple needs members like yourself who aren't afraid to voice opinions which may be unpopular, I hope you reconsider before you are "banned."

Ok, Zenchi, I am creating a separate thread for you and I to talk, (and others if the like...)..

So as to not derail too much here, lol....

As far as deleting Facebook and other social media sites I totally get it. I once just decided to see how long I could go without logging in to Facebook and did very well. After a month I decided that I had proved that I didn't "need" to log in any more and just wanted to scroll through for funny pictures, which is all I look at mine for. I try to find and like only funny pages so that Facebook brightens my day instead of ruining it. If a page is too negative, I delete it. The world is full enough of negative things without actively searching them out.

I love my facebook account. Like so many others, I have a large extended family, and that is how I keep in contact with many of them. It is the one way that I feel connected to the world. Each and every person on my friends list is someone that I care about and trust, and I wouldn't want to lose contact with them, no matter how far away they are.

The biggest problem, in my opinion, is that people need to grow a thicker skin. Everybody on this planet has problems; you have problems; I have problems; we all do. Instead of looking at someones' negative reaction and taking offense, try finding the base reason for that negativity and lend a hand, or an ear. Sometimes just letting someone vent, or cry, on your shoulder is all they need to help them through their day. For me, that's what being a Jedi is all about - serving others.

I know that my biggest problem, is that I can be cocky and think that I am better than most people. It's true, I do believe that. The journey that I have taken to get to where I am today has opened up my eyes to what I believe is the truth of our world, and I see so many people wandering aimlessly through life with their head up their back side. It is probably why I can be so introverted at times, but my journey as a Jedi has really helped me to understand that "to those that are given much; much is required," and I try to give back as much as I can.

Ok, so that all may seem a little disjointed, as I hopped from subject to subject. Sorry if it got off-topic, but I have to jet, so will try to get back later and tie all of it together.

I don't use facebook for anything other than communicating with people and reading news stories. I haven't posted anything to my wall for several years now and everything I posted in the past has been deleted, I also have full privacy settings on nearly everything.

If Facebook wasn't so useful as a tool for the above I would have already deleted it.

Most recently I have grown to hate that amazon searches appear as adverts on facebook...

You might want to read this really good article about the subject before you walk away.
Don't Quit the Social Networks You Hate. Bend Them to Your Will

I never liked it; used it a first time to "connect", thought it was rubbish in comparison to a phone line, had the account deleted, Then i created an account just to manage the totjo page, and I deleted this one as well as soon as I no longer needed it. With that thing, You clearly are the product, and facebook the customer. I don't understand what it is people find so amazing in it.

More info:

After talking to alot of people the sticking message was avoidance is not self discipline. Also, don't let the trolls win. That said I banned a source of toxic input, changed a few settings and reduced my exposure by simply deleting it from my phone. I can still access my account on a computer, but I am no longer waking to it or seeing it right before I go to bed.