Facebook, I love/hate you

My birthday came and went without any fun and/or clever blog post about it.  I'm still swirling in emotions from all that is going on in this great big world we live in and in my personal slice of the world as well. 

One very silly thing about a birthday is all the lovely well wishes on social media.  I admit it, I do love that about facebook.  C'mon...I admitted it was silly, but they are just little messages to brighten someone's day.  That's a nice thing.

But, here's the thing...

I have a love/hate relationship with facebook right now. 

I love it because my book challenge is there, and it brings me such a joy to see interactions with people from different corners of the world and different connections to my life all talking about books. 

I love it because I can see pictures of kids, travels, fur babies, and other joyful things that I just don't get to see in that magnitude in any other place from friends and family. 

I love it because I've reconnected with some people that bring joy in my life. 

I hate it because most everyone is an expert on something.  (No, they aren't.  They just think they are.)  I hate it because people say some of the dumbest, most idiotic, disrespectful, hateful, uninformed things that are sometimes even hurtful to others.  I hate it because sometimes I get drawn in to what I think should be intelligent discussions (silly me), but they turn into ugly arguments.  I hate it because I'm pretty sure that I've never once seen anyone admit, "I was wrong about topic XYZ, and thanks to facebook, I've been educated and have evolved into a smarter, better, healthier person".

I love it because it gives me a platform to discuss a book with a second cousin of mine that quite honestly, we would not be talking about if it wasn't for us both being on facebook.  We don't have each other's phone numbers or emails.  She's not a blogger.  Facebook is where we chat.  There are several people like this in my world.  I do feel closely connected with some people and fb is the medium because of it.

I love/hate the voyeuristic opportunities that it allows.

I hate that it can be used by perverts.  And inmates.  And terrorists.  And groups to support dickwads like rapists (Brock Turner's support group, I'm looking at you.)  And hate speech/groups.  And gangs and cartels. 

I love/hate some of the memes that I see making their rounds.  Some are wonderful and hilarious; some are moronic and spread ill-advised opinions to sheep-minded people.  Let me share one of those wonderful memes that I saw the day I typed this post:

What are some things that you love (or hate) about facebook?

Twitter is 10

Twitter and I have had an inconsistent relationship.  Sometimes, I love twitter.  Other times, twitter annoys me.  Some days, I ignore twitter, and other days, I'm tweeting multiple times. 

 

I'm pretty random about who I follow too.  I follow friends, bloggers, athletes, musicians, authors, and other celebs that I enjoy, but not all.  I don't really go searching for anyone to follow.  I just find them when something comes up pertaining to that person, and I think "do they have a twitter?" 

 

I live tweet, but only some events.  If you aren't a fan of my same sports teams, I may annoy you on game days, but not all game days.  I'm sarcastic, I get political, and sometimes I'm just silly or dumb.  I quote books, and I vent.  I'm random.  What else is new?

 

To celebrate twitter's 10th birthday, I thought I'd share 10 of my retweets to give you a slice of what you may find if you follow me @TexErinSydney :

 

Something true funny like this:

 

Something from a fellow blogger and Trump NON-supporter:

 

Something from one of my sports viewing moments when I can't actually watch the game, so I'm following along on twitter:

 

Something super awesome from a super awesome celebrity, like the time RDJ teamed with Make-A-Wish Australia for a boy to be Iron Man for a day:

 

 

Something that calls out hypocrisy and/or idiocy:

 

 

Something from Ellen giving her own spin and addition to the new Barbies:

 

Something celebrating the talents and contributions of a musician who passed away:

Something from another fellow blogger when I can relate:

Something that (again) calls out idiocy:

Something that calls out trolls and applauds one bad-ass singer:

What's your relationship with twitter?  Let me know your username so I can follow you, or follow me at TexErinSydney.

Linking up with Kristen and Joey:

Some videos go viral for all the wrong reasons

I'll attach an article or two to give you a little background...

Article 1

...but here's the lowdown...in a Sydney suburb, a 12 year old was stopped by cops for throwing rocks at vehicles and damaging buses in the process.  The mother of the kid started videoing thinking she'd make it "go viral" to show police abuse.  Actually, it's gone viral for other reasons...watch the video above...

Article 2 - that includes a video of the mother defending her son because, of course, he didn't do anything wrong.

Article 3

What a disgusting display of a lack of respect for authority. With this mentality, this mother will also accuse teachers of being in the wrong when her son is given detention, employers out to get her son when he is fired from a job, the probation officer being unfair when her son is recommended for a jail term, the judicial system being corrupt when her son is given a jail sentence, the prison system being abusive when her son is put into solitary confinement for spitting and throwing urine on staff............sadly, this all is likely to happen.

I hope she enjoys visiting her children in prison because that's where they will most likely end up.  Years ago, I was a caseworker at an institution for incarcerated youth.  I knew kids (and parents) exactly like this.

The kid was throwing rocks at cars and caused damage to buses. People have died from the actions of such pranks. When you are throwing rocks at cars that potentially cause damage and/or injury, you are committing a crime. On the video, threats of violence are made as well. For the safety of the youth, police, and other children around, handcuffs (unfortunately) appear to be a sensible use of force in this scenario.

This mother is an embarrassment to any other parents who are trying to raise their children with values and to learn to differentiate between right and wrong.  As for the kids, well, sadly, I'm thinking Australian taxpayers will sooner or later be paying for his accommodation, food, and healthcare in a prison.

Harsh?  Yes.  Judgemental?  Yes.  Do I hope one day there is a 60 Minutes special on this kid ten years from now focusing on how he turned his life around and is a positive force in society?  Absolutely. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts.....

 

 

It's my first time participating in this link-up, and I enjoy the "anything goes" element to it...so why not link-up something somewhat controversial to get this party started???



1000 Posts

People enjoy instagram for a variety of reasons.  Businesses market themselves.  Celebrities allow you to see a little more of their lives while also marketing themselves.  Some bloggers stage pretty pictures.  I mostly just give a slice of my life through random snapshots.

Today, I made my 1000th instagram post.  I thought it was the perfect time to look back, reflect, and view some of these snaps from my IG world.  Are we friends on IG?  We should be.  Find me here.

IG snap 1:  It seems my first post was my first dabble into pink hair.

IG snap 100:  Who doesn't love a little #TBT?  This picture portrays the gloriousness of the relationship between Texas, big hair, spandex, and dance teams.

IG snap 200:  100 weeks ago, this was the view from my apartment.

 

IG snap 300:  With as many cat photos as I post, I'm surprised this is the only one that made it as I was counting through each 100 pics.  I'm not surprised that it is Astro, as he is the kitty who is by my side most often.

IG snap 400:  The sweet sisters make their appearance.  Those faces.  Gahhh.

IG snap 500:  And, the Pacific Ocean makes its appearance too.  Which reminds me that I haven't been on a coastal walk lately, and I need to go.

IG snap 600:  My mother claims that I post a lot of drink pics.  I guess she may be correct.  

IG snap 700:  Representin' the 'stros when baseball season was starting.  Now, they lead the ALDS.  

 IG snap 800:  Back in Texas celebrating Niece 1's graduation

IG snap 900 - As I previously mentioned, who doesn't love a little #TBT?  Plus, sequins and big hair and prom 1991!

IG snap 1000:  Niece 2's 17th birthday is today!

Are you on instagram?  Let's be friends.