Gardening with Grandma

A teenage granddaughter comes downstairs for her date with this see-through blouse on and no bra. Her grandmother just pitched a fit, telling her not to dare go out like that! The teenager tells her "Loosen up Grams. These are modern times. You gotta let your rose buds show!"  And out she goes. The next day the teenager comes down stairs, and the grandmother is sitting there with no top on. The teenager wants to die. She explains to her grandmother that she has friends coming over and that it is just not appropriate. The grandmother says, "Loosen up, Sweetie. If you can show off your rose buds, then I can display my hanging baskets." Happy Gardening!

Privacy RIP

Folks consistently complain about not having privacy due to social media.  But what they don't realize or won't accept is the simple fact that no one will know what you don't tell.  Let that marinate for a moment.

It seems that we've become so accustomed to posting every tidbit online -- checking in at restaurants, events and other venues, sharing pics of us with friends or our meals, our opinion about a movie or show, and so on and so on -- that we've actually decided that when someone disagrees they are being negative.  Um...no. They are actually just disagreeing.  It's gotten so bad that folks request as they post "no negative comments."  Guess what...you can't control what people say.  Well, that's not all the way true.  You can always delete comments that you don't like.  But you can't otherwise control how people will respond to what you've posted, even with your request.  It's laughable to even think so. And even if we can control what's posted on our page, what is being said behind our backs on other pages, in groups and posts elsewhere, in emails and text messages?  Way too much to worry about. We may say that what others think about me isn't my business but if we really feel that way we wouldn't care about negative comments.  Such a conundrum.

Instead of attempting to censor those who may respond, why don't we censor ourselves?  No reason to post something that may elicit negative responses in the first place.  It's obvious that nothing is private any more.  Screenshots are a great example of what can never be sent.  Information posted on other sites can be copied and pasted and shared with others too.  So the only way to totally ensure privacy, and the absence of responses that hurt our feelings, is to not tell our business.

Now I for one enjoy posting via social media.  But I do understand that some things can't be shared.  I daresay we should all take a breather prior to hitting send.  Think twice, three times even.  Then and only then, if you really and truly aren't concerned with the backlash, say it with your chest!  Just realize that I may see it somewhere and I will have something to say and you may just find it to be negative.  Ah well...the pen never rests!

FB Chain Posts

Like if you agree.

Share this post if you agree.

Why are you telling me what to do on my Facebook page via a post on yours?

The entire purpose of MY Facebook page is to post what I want to post.  

I may like or share your sentiments, but I may not wish to share them at this time and in this manner.  And further, I certainly may not wish to share them with the demand that others do the same. This idea stretches to blacking out or posting certain pics on certain days.  Nope, I don’t think I want to do that.  Does it mean I don’t support the flavor of the cause of the day? … not really.  

Social media is one avenue of support and I wish to use other, more effective ways to make changes in my society.  Now you may argue that social media has been very influential in alerting the world of certain situations that may have otherwise been swept under the carpet and I would agree with you.  However, awareness does not necessarily equal change.  (Think: smoking.)  I wish to do the latter.  I write to share information and raise awareness.  Money effects change.  Sad but true.  When I truly wish to make a change, I raise money and become a part of a reputable organization that forces change in the area of my choosing.  Liking a Facebook post won’t do that, no matter the number of likes. 

It’s ironic how our society has latched on to the “bully syndrome” – most likely by less-thans who were taunted throughout their childhoods – but we don’t seem to make the correlation with these posts.   Intimidation is, in fact, bullying when tactics such as guilt – if you want the little girl to die, keep scrolling – are employed.  Why do we condone this?  We've proven that we’re too thin-skinned to stand up to any other forceful techniques but consistently cry about being bullied.  I often maintain that the only way to stop a bully is by building your self-esteem.  You have to be so confident in who you are and why you are doing what you’re doing that nothing another person says or does can sway you.

For that reason alone, I often keep scrolling.

NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month begins today.  And it couldn't have come at a better time.  I've been slacking on my writing and needed a push.  So here goes...