Do you speak to your friends and family less because of Facebook?

1. 82

   mgeorge1050posted 11 years ago

   Do you speak to your friends and family less because of Facebook?
   
   My wife is huge into Facebook, and she is always telling me all the details of her 'friends' daily lives.  The other day I asked her what she actually talks to friends about when they call or visit, and she replied that they don't really speak on the phone anymore.  With Facebook instantly providing all of your 'friends' up to the minute news, do you physically speak to them less, on the phone or in person?

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2. 60

   Penny Gposted 11 years ago

   No because we don't have one. After all the drama we've seen among family members, feuds, gossip, and hearing about the conversations of what they had to eat for supper, if they're happy, sad, hungry, on and on from our kids,we decided if they want to talk to us, we will accept a text, but any lengthy conversations, call.

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   1. 82

      mgeorge1050posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't understand some folks, putting their whole lives out there for everyone to see.  It sounds like you have come to the same conclusion that I have, Facebook is evil.  Thanks for your answer.

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3. 83

   wychicposted 11 years ago

   No, I actually interact with them more. I hate the phone and am often extremely busy, so I never really called anyone before anyway. I still visit whenever I can, but for some people that may mean years before I see them again. Facebook lets me interact with them within my time constraints and still be a part of their lives. My best friend often "visits" me on Skype now, so that might be a way to increase some face time -- she can't afford to come to Wyoming, and I can't go to Florida to see her, so we use what we have.
   
   One caveat -- I am careful about how many people, and what type of people, I have on my Facebook. I don't "friend" everyone with whom I'm acquainted, and I will "unfriend" for persistent drama, negativity, or just plain being boring. It's not that I mind them posting those on their wall, that's totally their space, it's just that I have no interest in seeing it on my timeline. I see some people with like 800 Facebook friends and it totally swallows up their lives. My own list stays around 150, mostly family members, close friends, classmates and a few clients, as well as a few positive, interesting people I've met in my "internet travels."
   
   Without Facebook, it's very possible that I'd just stay in my own little world indefinitely without interacting with anyone else at all. I work from home, I'm quite comfortable in my own skin and enjoy my own company, so there's not much push to keep in contact with people. When I know I can "shut off" the socializing whenever I need to or want to, then I don't mind jumping in for 5-10 minutes here and there.

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