I just went through my short list on FB and unfollowed 90% of the noise on there. I also snoozed most places that had posts that I generally just browse when I am totally bored. That is stupid on my part.
I will keep FB for those few neighbors that text me through Messenger or actually have something to say that interests me. So now when I go to FB, I spent less than 60 seconds looking at it. In fact I am going to see how long I can ignore FB!
IG may be next. I made sure I was not on 'threads' which seems to have taken off but is still run by Zuckerberg's company. They both may be the next thing to go also. I didn't use IG except to post some of my funny stuff and some toy stuff for the Lego folks. Both my sons use IG so I may have to keep it.
I perused BlueSky this morning. Not even sure I want to get into having 'social' media anymore. At least I never joined Twitter and I am super glad I am not on X.
I will stay here. Blogs are not the rage anymore and who cares about most bloggers anyway? I do. It seems like one of the last places where you can pick and choose what you want to read.
I do enjoy reading about others and what they do daily.
I visit news sites and read or watch news on my cell phone. Sometimes I get so disgusted that I turn my phone OFF. Then of course I get worried that I'll miss a tracking message for hubby's meds so...dang it. I turn it back on.
At night, the phone goes on top of the spice rack in the kitchen and that is where it stays from 8pm until I get up to start the day.
Slowly I am making changes to some of the poor habits I picked up. Less internet. More outer world.
My only real bad good habit is Flickr. I've heard that some people are flocking back to Flickr which is a photographer site but also a site that is a social media. People can share ideas, photos, and daily updates basically through photography. I've made friends on Flickr that I've kept for 15 years. Some of them I've met in real life and some only through messages and maybe a real phone call.
I have gone back to writing what I really think of the world in my paper journal. At least that does clear my mind of all sorts of thoughts before I go to bed.
I used to keep a journal for years and years. I still have a box of my journals all the way back to High School, through college, and my first years of marriage which included my thoughts when I gave birth to my first son.
I'll stay here for now.
Photography is still my release from stress. So I will continue to do it.
Here is Bear, my cold weather hiking companion taking, a rest the other day. He is a very smart Bear. He knows how to just sit and BE. Something I could learn from him.
I wonder if he is meditating?
The weather is milder today so I am going to go out and enjoy the woods.
This view is from a few years ago on an open field when we had snow.
I need some fresh air.
I want to check out a new 'thing' I got for photography. I don't think it will help out much now...however it could be a game changer later this year when the creeks are flowing. A magnetic ND filter and lens cap.
Instead of screwing and unscrewing the filter, you simply attach the magnetic ring to your lens then carry the filter until you want to use it.
The on & off of the filter takes only a second. No fumbling fingers!
Hopefully I can find a place to try it out today. It is up to 22 F this morning! Whoo!
Facebook is so full of ads, I scroll through quickly and watch a few reels. I am not on Tik Tok, Twitter, X or any of that other "stuff" I have the Meta Message thing on facebook from when I sold some stuff, when I am all done selling stuff I will get rid of that app. I like blogs the best also, real people doing real things:)
ReplyDeleteI agree FB is an ad just happening. I do keep an eye on a few things, but I do much less now.
DeleteI never tried Twitter or TikTok or X either.
Real people doing real things, not curated stuff to make yourself important. That is what life is really about.
I relate to many of your thoughts on social media. I still enjoy FB, although I find I waste too much time scrolling. But it's a good way for me to keep in touch with old friends and work associates. I don't use IG much... I find a lot of people post on both, so there's a lot of duplicative content. Never did Twitter or X, and not too interested in Blue Sky. I did Flickr for a long time, but I found it harder to connect with people vs. FB. I have a traditional (screw on) ND filter that doesn't get much use, but fun for blurring movement!
ReplyDeleteI am with you on FB and IG. I rarely post matching posts. FB does have some folks that I wish to still have updates from. My gym gang for one.
DeleteI had intended to do a long exposure today, but I left it on the table...
Those filters can really be fun.
I gave up FB in 2019, except for a couple of random posts here and there. I quit Insta a couple of years ago. I have kept both accounts for the same reason as you, there are a few people on both I like and periodically interact with. I read nothing on either. I joined Bluesky but have not used it. I use Substack for some news, things written by Robert Reich, Heather Cox Richardson, Adam Kinzinger and some others. I really have never cared for the social media platforms. Please do stay here, I would miss you a lot. I think Bear in contenting.
ReplyDeleteI deleted so many photos off FB and got rid of the junk. I snoozed so many things just to see if I really cared if I saw it or not.
DeleteSo far, I don't miss most of it.
I don't think I'm leaving here. Just leaving a lot of other stuff behind.
These magnetic filters are a big thing, but I use filters so little that I won't indulge. FB is mostly there for messenger and local groups, like photography. I will keep it for those purposes, but I won't spend much time and I won't engage much. Twitter I have almost abandoned. I like Bluesky for kind of a news feed, which is how I used to use TW.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain with the whole thing. As you know, since we have been friends for years, my Journal (blogging) is my favorite form of communicating with people like you and Sandra. I have met so many others from around the world after doing this for such a long time. I am going to start snoozing on FB too. Good idea. My thing is posting photographs and the current political scene has brought nothing but bad news. Very hard to restrain myself. Never got into Twitter, X or the others. The times are a changin'! Lori
ReplyDeleteI have been off FB for some time now but stick to ones where we have family. I find the toxic nature and misinformation appalling. It even seems to be leaking into my next door neighborhood app. All I am looking for are people to fix things, or seeing information about local events, etc. Someone mentions politics and oh dear it all starts flying. I keep hearing about Bluesky and need to investigate. I have met a lot of nice people on blogger and it’s my happy place, been on it since 2008 so I will be staying.
ReplyDeleteI have not been, nor am now, on any social media platform, other than my blog. And that’s the way it will stay.
ReplyDeleteHello Val, I am a new blog visitor who came here after seeing your comments on posts of other bloggers I read. Your comments on other forms of social media are well taken and it seems that lots of folks are ditching them. As for myself, blogger is the only social media I've used for well over 10+ years and that's fine with me. I enjoy reading about others and pleased when they also read and comment on my posts. I've been fortunate enough to meet some bloggers face-to-face while most have only been met on-line. We may not always agree (perfectly OK), but it's a nice community.
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow photographer, I like to see way others view the world around them and plan to check out some of your other posts. Please feel free to stop by for a visit to my blog space any time, visitors always welcomed and appreciated.
Awesome! Glad to meet you. I think I came across your name a few times and recall it as... I have a love for Boyd Bears!
DeleteI've met a few bloggers too over the years!
By the way, thanks for the info about the magnetic ND filter. That's on accessory that I plan to check out as it would be much easier than screwing one on.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of streams and little creeks around here so I like to take longer exposures sometimes.
DeleteI also love to funky things with an ND filter.
I'll probably do a lot of experimenting with it.
I agree with you about blogger. Write and share what I want and don't get inundated with all the crap the Facebook shoves at us. I gave up my personal FB account 6 years ago, disgusted with all the narcissism and agendas on there, but kept my Diamond Lazy H page going as a platform for selling horses. I now share that page with Shayla, (Wenham Valley Performance Horses) and have been thinking lately about just dropping that too, as I am not selling horses any more. I don't have any other social media; if family wants to get ahold of me, they know my phone number.
ReplyDelete