Dear Facebook friends (and hopefully, others),
I’ve recently noticed that some of you seem very upset about privacy issues and have been posting messages all in caps (ostensibly to show that it is super important but, in the parlance of social media, actually means you are SCREAMING), asking me and your other 1000 “friends” to follow an obtuse flow chart of setting directions that is impossible to understand unless you are a geek squad member, in order to protect your privacy. Um…really?
Is it me, or does using the words “privacy” and “Facebook” in the same sentence strike anyone as an oxymoron? At first I thought you were kidding. It appears that you want to post a picture of, say, your dinner on the biggest social media site in the world and then kvetch that someone saw a picture of your dinner (or your kid’s artwork, or your cat, or your aunt Phyllis when she had a beehive or—not making this up—your Goddamn infected toe). Hmm. Did it maybe occur to you that if you want to have more control over your privacy, just DON’T POST IT ON FACEBOOK (yes dear, I’m yelling). Just kick it old school and tell your sister when you see her (or your shrink, or your neighbor). Or maybe just eat your lunch and without memorializing it. I know, I know—doing something without sharing is so hopelessly 20th-century and sort of empty, right?
Here’s what I would like you to do for me: please share everything I post—as much as you can tolerate without getting sick of me. If I put it on Facebook, it is precisely because I want as many people as possible to see it. You see, I have a blog called #stargayzing.com (please use the hash tag, it will help more people find my posts) and I would also love it if you “like” my Stargayzing fanpage on Facebook.
I beseech you NOT to adjust any settings on my behalf, but to take a fraction of that time and, instead, share something I wrote. The truth is WANT people I don’t know to find my work and that depends on you. Please don’t worry about my privacy! I’m okay. You see, if I have something that I want to keep private, I promise to keep it to myself. How’s that for a throwback? #TBT
Sincerely,
David Munk (stargayzing.com)
P.S. Here’s another irresistible topic for all you privacy hawks: Your smart phone is actually a tracking device. Discuss.
You may also like:
We Built This City: The Danger of Combining Racket Sports, Starship and Chewing Gum at the Same Time
Lisa Moir
October 24, 2013 at 5:03 pmI hate that and yet I find myself posting that very paragraph! The last one going around I posted and then asked, “Who are these people or the person sending this around? What do they gain from doing so? I am very familiar with social media and understand that YES…You put it out there and it is NO LONGER Private! Even with the privacy settings. But that is the risk we take with Social media. I agree. You don’t want it out there? Don’t post it.
Anyway you look at it, we live in a society that is obsessed with being connected and sharing everything with the world.
Recently about a couple of months ago or maybe last month. There was 3 nights where we were to have a media shower. So a bunch of us sat out in the backyard of a friends house and looked up to the beautiful night sky. I kept seeing these very faint (what looked like stars) lights moving. Within a 20 minute period I counted 5. I asked my friend who was in the Military, if those were planes. He said NO. Those are satellites! I was astounded. Years ago you would never have seen that much activity in the sky other than planes and shooting stars. This was a wake up call for me in that Big Brother is REALLY watching and that little by little our privacy is dwindling away! Well to that I say make it count! Put on a show. The world is now a stage! Thanks for the commentary David! And will share! Everyone needs to know about Stargayzing! Including the Government! Hahaha
David Munk
October 25, 2013 at 1:36 amThank you Lisa – as always xox