Leaving Facebook by Instructions from Guide Spirits

[royster]

My Internet Provider offers a package of e-mail and internet access. I went BACK ON line to get the e-mail package to stay in touch with my mother. As it turns out, I am able to visit her every three months fairly cheaply because I book my flights on-line.

I went off-line about four years ago (before she had her strokes) for well over a year. I missed it at first, then slowly realised there was much I had been neglecting.

I found the Pavlina forums through a Google search; I was doing some research on Lightworkers, and Steve's "Darkworkers" thread showed up among the fray. It interested me, so I visited here. I later decided to become a member because of what the forums offered and some of the people here.

I'm not ever sure if Angela is playing 'devil's advocate' or simply standing as the staunch defender of the mainstream. It doesn't matter; I get to gripe and complain, and then learn from my crabbiness. While it may seem shellfish to be crabby, there's nothing fishy about learning. Besides, I'm a royster; we ARE shellfish.

[Angela]

You don't have to defend yourself, royster -- there's nothing wrong with trapping yourself in a Chinese finger trap. I'm not saying you shouldn't -- on the contrary; it's fun to watch! There's often a big good-feeling laugh, too, if and when the trapped person sees that he's been boldly creating the very thing he's whining about, and releases himself.

And you are creating what you have, yes, demonized. (Do you not recall referring to the addiction to Facebook as the "devil on your shoulder" or asserting that the Internet is "a tool of the devil"?) By using the tool that is the Internet, you are actually generating the tool that is the Internet. Even now, by defending your use of it.

[Angela]

p.s... I don't think the mainstream needs my defense, but I sure am in favor of going downstream -- by which I mean generating acceptance and letting go of resistance. (That's not the same thing as "giving up" and just allowing yourself to be swept up by the crowd, by the way.)

[elucidate]

I like saying shellfish as well

Originally Posted by royster

My Internet Provider offers a package of e-mail and internet access. I went BACK ON line to get the e-mail package to stay in touch with my mother. As it turns out, I am able to visit her every three months fairly cheaply because I book my flights on-line.

I went off-line about four years ago (before she had her strokes) for well over a year. I missed it at first, then slowly realised there was much I had been neglecting.

I found the Pavlina forums through a Google search; I was doing some research on Lightworkers, and Steve's "Darkworkers" thread showed up among the fray. It interested me, so I visited here. I later decided to become a member because of what the forums offered and some of the people here.

I'm not ever sure if Angela is playing 'devil's advocate' or simply standing as the staunch defender of the mainstream. It doesn't matter; I get to gripe and complain, and then learn from my crabbiness. While it may seem shellfish to be crabby, there's nothing fishy about learning. Besides, I'm a royster; we ARE shellfish.

[SarahDanstar]

very inspirational, thank you

[royster]

While in the past 50 years communication has become easier and easier, the content of communication has deteriorated. HOW we communicate is essential to the overall growth of all. When this growth is affected by slang, abreviation and trivia, it stops being meaningful and beneficial.

While it is true that the internet brought us immediate information, much (if not most) of that information is virtually impossible to convey reasonably on Facebook. "LOL" means nothing to me, nor are any of the other cyber-speak cutsies meaningful or enduring.

If you look at the design of Facebook, you cannot promote a meaningful exchange, unless you devalue your communication skills. Honing them doesn't help, as you really only get a few seconds of notice at any time. By calling it a "social network" Facebook passes itself off as a good thing. I see it as a diminishing of language, communication and focus...deliberately.

You're free to think what you want, but you might want to make sure it is YOU doing the thinking, and not the subliminal messages of those who strive to keep you dumbed down.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by royster

If you look at the design of Facebook, you cannot promote a meaningful exchange, unless you devalue your communication skills.

YOU can't, maybe.

[AaronB]

Originally Posted by Angela

YOU can't, maybe.

I can't either...

I canceled facebook about 6 months ago. Not because it's the tool of the devil, but I personally found myself not able to easily have conversations that were meaningful to me. I'd rather save my energy for places where I can use it more effectively.

I would not really be all that surprised that Angela can wield facebook in a way that has a wonderful positive impact on others. She has certainly inspired me many times. I think the world could use Angela influence in as many places as they're lucky enough to get it!

[Angela]

Thank you for that, AaronB! That has me feeling good.

I acknowledge you for using a perspective of 100% responsibility -- being at cause. I think that has a wonderful positive impact on others.

[spacecadetglow]

While the digital medium is no *substitute* for face-to-face interactions, I don't buy into the argument that lolspeak is degrading our language. Whose definition of degradation are we using here?

I understand if you personally find lolspeak irritating or symptomatic of decaying culture, but realize for others it's quite the opposite. This lingo has become memetic throughout our culture, creating many hilarious youtube videos, pictures of kittens, and other such valuable, meaningful material along the way.

I dunno, arguments like that always seemed kind stodgy for me. What about ebonics, is that corrupting our pure English language too? Is there such a thing as a "pure" language? Who gets to judge what's pure and what isn't? The way I see things, it's a valid part of our language and culture, if you subscribe to a descriptive-grammar approach.

[elucidate]

I feel the same, and I think that as useful a tool as it can be, it also has the effect of feeding impatience in our "instant gratification" society, where people become so used to being able to find anything they want at the touch of a button that it makes developing patience, which is after all, a virtue, much much harder than it would be ordinarily. I'm also a book lover, and I find the sterility of the internet to be somewhat disturbing to my sensibilities. I need the smell, the texture of old books, the dust and the feeling...as much as I like the feeling of pressing buttons.

I am concerned that it also has the effect of creating a barrier to peoples emotional realms, making empathy something that is harder to experience, though this forum has shown some thread and posts that have provided me with a stealthy counter argument to my thoughts on that matter. There are some people here who seem to be able to truly feel what is going on for the other person, or at least make the time and effort to try to...but the majority do not.

I suppose that happens in real life as well though. I also can't stand the "LOL" culture. I love words and I find the laziness people have with them to be distasteful to say the least. That's my personal opinion, and I know that others here don't feel that way and think it's fine, and that's fine...for them, not for me!

Originally Posted by royster

While in the past 50 years communication has become easier and easier, the content of communication has deteriorated. HOW we communicate is essential to the overall growth of all. When this growth is affected by slang, abreviation and trivia, it stops being meaningful and beneficial.

While it is true that the internet brought us immediate information, much (if not most) of that information is virtually impossible to convey reasonably on Facebook. "LOL" means nothing to me, nor are any of the other cyber-speak cutsies meaningful or enduring.

If you look at the design of Facebook, you cannot promote a meaningful exchange, unless you devalue your communication skills. Honing them doesn't help, as you really only get a few seconds of notice at any time. By calling it a "social network" Facebook passes itself off as a good thing. I see it as a diminishing of language, communication and focus...deliberately.

You're free to think what you want, but you might want to make sure it is YOU doing the thinking, and not the subliminal messages of those who strive to keep you dumbed down.

[Angela]

I agree, Amy. If the variation of language transmits meaning between the speaker and the listener, then the communication is meaningful.

My brothers and I have our own way of speaking amongst ourselves that sounds baffling and meaningless to others, but for us, all KINDS of meaning is communicated in our conversations. LOL-speak is just a chunked-up version of that.

[spacecadetglow]

[Angela]

Lol!

Originally Posted by spacecadetglow

[Summerbreeze]

no news, no TV and no face book for me.

Things my intuition said too, it influences the learning curve dramatically, economically speaking.
I think many people recognize that they themselves create to a extent the reality and are responsible for our future and want to determine their input and not to be determined. This might be for everyone a different decision.

I'm still living, so enjoy the journey it might be the last human incarnation for you for a long time
I say this because i sense much awareness and upheaval in you like a "new birth"

Best wishes for you royster.

~sb

[elucidate]

Always a good thing to listen to your inner tuition.

Mine said the same.

Originally Posted by Summerbreeze

no news, no TV and no face book for me.

Things my intuition said too, it influences the learning curve dramatically, economically speaking.
I think many people recognize that they themselves create to a extent the reality and are responsible for our future and want to determine their input and not to be determined. This might be for everyone a different decision.

I'm still living, so enjoy the journey it might be the last human incarnation for you for a long time
I say this because i sense much awareness and upheaval in you like a "new birth"

Best wishes for you royster.

~sb

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by spacecadetglow

[royster]

i sense much awareness and upheaval in you like a "new birth"

Best wishes for you royster.

This is so very kind of you, thanks. It's also right on target. As a friend says on another thread (Ascension First Aid) we feel the sorrow of the world, and our outrage at the injustices appear to only be fodder for jokes by those who know all. A couple of lifetimes ago, they probably had many good laughs at Noah. When their world collapsed, it wasn't so funny. No amount of pounding on the ark door changed their fate. Warnings? All through history. Heed it? Not with so much 'social networking' to do! LOL! LMAOROTF!

Upheaval indeed. Thank you SO MUCH for the notice and empathy.

[invisiblehouses]

Originally Posted by elucidate

The Internet is definately a safe haven for many, many people who have poor social skills or trouble socializing, or shyness (social anxiety disorder).

Yeah. That's me, circa 1995.

[royster]

Those who know Sufism are familiar with the Nasruden stories.

In one such story, Nasruden finds himself aboard a ship. Speaking to an English teacher, he says something gramattically incorrect.

"Have you never learned proper English!?" the teacher snaps. Nasruden admits he has not.

"Then half of your life has been wasted!" the teacher huffs.

Some hours later an event happens which causes the ship to begin sinking. Standing next to the teacher as the last lifeboat leaves, Nasruden asks the teacher if he had ever learned to swim. The teacher admits that he has not.

"Then ALL of your life has been wasted." Nasruden says as he jumps overboard.

[royster]

Steve Pavlina has left Facebook. I don't know why, but there it is.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by royster

Steve Pavlina has left Facebook. I don't know why, but there it is.

He talks about why, in great detail, in his recent blog entry.

[royster]

Thank you so much for posting that, Angela. He does, indeed, explain it rather well.

[royster]

Here's a pointed question. (Actually, I've never understood that term, I have no reason to use it. Besides, it's pointed; it could hurt someone...)

Many of you here, ranting about the wonderful virtues of Facebook, were on my friends list. NOT ONE OF YOU even responded to the FaceBook Virus Education proposition. This strongly indicates to me that, although you love the service, you are unwilling to do anything to help preserve it or make it safer.

I proposed everyone posting over a 24-hour period their experiences with viruses (Shasah got one) and problems.




Not one person.


The implications of this run much deeper than superficial facebook LOL-blather; it shows a weak point in society. Unwillingness to participate in the greater good of a community doesn't seem like a very positive virtue, to me.


Then again, first-class passengers on the Titanic didn't have to wash dishes.

[Angela]

Are you speaking to me? Because I've never heard of any such proposition.

[st33med]

I haven't either. I've certainly haven't experienced a virus from my Facebook, and I am pretty sure it doesn't spawn directly from Facebook and only affects the profile.

I could be wrong.

[royster]

There IS a virus specifically aimed at Windows Vista on Facebook. It was sharing this sort of information that I was trying to accomplish.

Angela, I really don't remember now if you were on my list.

And it isn't too late to initiate such a vigil. Several of my friends on Facebook had a variety of suspicious incidents occur to them, myself included.

One virus gets a hold of your user name and password, then accesses all of your friends.

Oh, I've been a political activist since birth. Some have it, some don't.

[st33med]

Originally Posted by royster

There IS a virus specifically aimed at Windows Vista on Facebook. It was sharing this sort of information that I was trying to accomplish.

Angela, I really don't remember now if you were on my list.

And it isn't too late to initiate such a vigil. Several of my friends on Facebook had a variety of suspicious incidents occur to them, myself included.

One virus gets a hold of your user name and password, then accesses all of your friends.

Oh, I've been a political activist since birth. Some have it, some don't.

I doubt it targets only Windows Vista or this virus exists. A virus gains control over the computer, not a Facebook account.
What happens is that an app that you run that sometimes does nothing can gain control over your wall and send wall messages to friends. BE CAREFUL when you run an app that gains control over your wall. If you are not sure about the app, don't run it at all.

[royster]

You can doubt all you want. The facts from computer wizards say it's so. This information is available, Google it up. There's a specific remedy for the virus, only for Vista.

These are specifically the problems I tried to get people to pay attention to. Apparently Farmville was much more important.

[st33med]

Originally Posted by royster

You can doubt all you want. The facts from computer wizards say it's so. This information is available, Google it up. There's a specific remedy for the virus, only for Vista.

These are specifically the problems I tried to get people to pay attention to. Apparently Farmville was much more important.

Um I am a computer wizard and I did Google. The only virus I have seen were indirectly involved with Facebook website and required you to install a phony flash plugin which hijacked your Windows machine Vista, XP, or 7, whichever. There are also people who fall to the phony email messages of changing passwords.

Facebook Virus Turns Your Computer into a Zombie - PCWorld
snopes.com: Bredolab