You have deactivated your Facebook account … (again)

I have, and it feels good.  I deactivated Facebook before, and I said it felt good then too, but I went back, I caved in.  Here’s what I wrote last time:

http://wp.me/p38zNH-n

Re-reading it, I still agree with every word and wonder why I ever went back?

Main reasons for leaving:

1) I dislike my own updates.  I’m mostly trying to show people how witty I am by forwarding other people’s jokes (impressive), and if I’m not making a joke, I’m self publicising by posting from some glamorous location so I can show everyone where I am.  Look at me!

2) I dislike (some) other people’s updates.  Many people use Facebook to show off.  Facebook is like one big pissing contest around exam time/holidays/christmas.  And yes, I’m guilty of this – see 1) above. Look at you!

3) I waste an enormous amount of time on it.  I checked if before bed, I checked it each morning and if I woke in the middle of the night I checked it then too.  I also checked it at work, on the train and walking down the street.

4) It stole my creativity and it stole my time.  Why bother expressing your feelings in a thought out, considered piece of prose, when you can do a short FB update instead? Why work hard at producing something original when you can upload a photo or share an article?

5) It spoiled great occasions.  So addicted to Facebook was I, that if I was at some fantastic event, my first thought was to capture it and share it with Facebook.  As I wrestled with technology, tried to take photos in the crowd, or struggle to login to wifi or get 3G access, the ‘event’ unfolded in front of me, and I was missing most of it as I viewed it through the lens of my iPhone instead of with my eyes.

6) It’s anti-social and it’s become so insidious it’s changing society and how we interact with each other, and that scares me most of all.

Knowing my track record of anything, I will give in and go back at some point, but then if you’ve been reading this blog you already knew that.

This is me