A Tale of Two Facebook Posts
Read Time:4 Minute, 8 Second
Sunday evening, a Facebook friend posted an adorable video of himself, going to visit his parents for their anniversary. It was about 20 seconds long. When I logged off, that video had over fifty likes, dozens of comments and had been shared numerous times. As of this morning, that 20 second video has 96 likes and 61 comments.
A little over a month ago, my friend Avi, who has been interviewed right here at Mad Mike’s America, posted a petition calling on a European grocery store chain to stop selling shark meat. I immediately signed it and shared it on my wall, asking people to do the same. That petition received maybe ten likes, was shared less than five times and garnered no comments.
I think this tale speaks volumes about society in general, and our increasing lack of interest in anything that matters. Yes, the video was really nice, and showed a wonderful moment in that man’s life. However, what does it say about us, as a society, that a petition to save one of the most noble and beautiful creatures on the planet garnered much less of a response on Facebook?
Facebook has changed the way we humans interact. During the Occupy movement, Facebook served as a hub for groups all over America, and was instrumental in the forming and publicizing of OWS. Instant information, combined with passionate activists made OWS a powerful protest, and much of the success was due to social media, especially Facebook and Twitter. Now, it seems the apathy is back, and we are using these tools for self-promotion, cat haz a cheezeburger photos and typing angrily all in caps about, well, everything under the sun.
Last year, I tried to use Facebook to organize a protest in Anoka, Minnesota, against the now defunct No Homo Promo policy. One person, other than me, said they would go. That policy was largely responsible for nine teenagers taking their own lives, but I couldn’t get anyone on Facebook interested in this protest. Why? My belief is that for the most part, people are unwilling to participate in anything that doesn’t directly affect them. And that is the power and the curse of Facebook.
Facebook is all about gratification and ego. It could be used as it was during OWS, as a force for good and positive change, but for the most part, it’s used by people to bolster their own image. I use Facebook to share what I write here at Mad Mike’s America, and to play Bejeweled. Sometimes, I share a status, not to see who’s paying attention, or who “likes me,” but just to be annoying. I know no one actually cares that I have huge blisters on my feet or that my son made the honor roll or that my husband is perfect. I just get bored.
In my world, a petition to ban the sale of shark meat is important. It turns out very few people live in my world. And I think that says more about us than it does about Facebook. Facebook is a tool, and it seems that quite a lot of people are using it in precisely the wrong way. We could change the world if we wanted to, but we’re really not paying attention. We want juggling cats and Photo Shopped black lions and memes and videos that make us say “Awww!”
Understand, I’m not saying we should never, ever share things that are sweet or cute or fluffy. I love fluffy, I love cute. What I am saying is we need a balance. We seem to have become overwhelmed with politics and suffering, and rather than focus on changing anything, we’ve simply given up. My Collective Soul review isn’t exactly profound-it qualifies as light and fluffy and then some. Fun is good! So is activism and voting and educating and being aware. We have the opportunity, using Facebook, to truly affect the outcome of November’s elections, but it’s up to us. Keep posting Cats Playing Patty-Cake, keep sharing photos of flowers and puppies. But don’t lose sight of the bigger picture: the future.
There’s an old joke that says I used to be apathetic, now I just don’t give a shit. It’s not that funny anymore. If we, as a society, a global society, could get back that sense of unity we had during OWS, maybe we could change the world for the better. Maybe if we took the time to regain the balance between cute and profound, others would do the same, and next thing you know, BAM, we have a less corrupt Supreme Court, everyone has health insurance, and America is still on the path to betterment. And we can still share photos of puppies.
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Erin, you make several great points but there comes a point in time where one runs out of energy and has to get away from fighting the windmills for a while. I have to do that or I will go into a permanent depression. I have been “fighting the good fight” for so long that my batteries wear out much quicker now and reality sets in much quicker. Frustration drains these aging bones at a more rapid rate and I want to throw the computer against the wall. Fortunately, I have learned to change the channel first and chill until its back under control.
Bill, I agree. We need the balance, we need the silly with the serious. If I wrote about nothing but politics, I would end up in a mental hospital. I just hope people realize that along with the juggling squirrels and snarky ECards, we have an amazing tool we can use to change the future.
Erin, you’ve seen enough of my work to know that I’m very socially conscious – on matters of politics, the environment, women’s issues, etc., but even I can become overwhelmed with all the sadness in the world. I at least scan everything that comes across my wall. Some things I comment on, some I don’t and neither means I care more about one over the other. Part of my time on Facebook is spent on activism and part of it is spent attempting to cheer people up.
I get precisely what you’re saying, but in these troubled time, when people see a 20 second video celebrating life and love, it’s not that they care more about it than saving the whales, the environment or democracy, it means they had 20 seconds to feed their soul a little. I think there’s something worthwhile in that.
Peace.
Thank you to Mike and especially to Erin, for supporting my work and for highlighting an issue that is rarely spoken of but has potentially devastating consequences for all of humanity. If the sea dies, we die. It is that simple. And sharks are absolutely essential for the health of the sea.
I have to agree with Avi. I don’t like bad news but know there are bad things going on in the world and they cannot be ignored. My frustration shows almost daily as I post the always vacuous search topics recorded by Google. The world could be in flames and the subject folks are most interested in could well be Kim Kardashian.
Like Avi, I think liberals do need a good kick from time to time, as they, like most of the American people, have become apathetic. Unlike republicans, they prefer to lie in the shade and let the world go by.
Avi, I can’t get the picture of MY favorite animal being clubbed to death out my mind now. Thanks for caring and actually working to do something to stop this gratuitous slaughter of our beautiful sharks.
This is a strange assumption that dealing with issues of concern is somehow negative. I don’t subscribe to that view at all. To me dealing with negative issues is actually very positive because the idea is to improve things! The reason people are able to get away with doing bad things is because the majority of the population are completely apathetic. It’s so much easier to bury your head in the sand, than stick it above the parapet. I spent 24 hours on a shark fishing dhow in the Indian Ocean watching my favourite animal in the world being clubbed to death. It was horrifying and left me physically and mentally drained for weeks after. At the same time, it made me feel so good! You know why? Because I was/am doing something about it! Thank you Erin, for giving apathetic liberals a bloody good kick up the ass!
BOOM!
Well – and I say this with just a tinge of jealousy – you’re good.
Oh. There’s 3 uses for this “tool.” Posting cheezeburger cats, posting protest notifications – and making money. FaceBook, much to my chagrin has become a “business tool.” I spent yesterday evening at an event called Webinno, where people in suits sit around and discuss how to improve your “SEO.”
And I’m as guilty as anybody, or I wouldn’t have been there. I come to discover that I have an End game. That I want unique views and click-throughs. And I’ll let you in on a little secret, Erin. With all due respect. So does MadMike.
I’m sure you’re right. Even I have an end game: interviewing Stephen King. It may never happen, but I will never stop trying. As for Facebook, this morning, pages are not loading and links are disappearing. Thus, today is a great day to clean the house, head out to run some errands and write. 🙂
I agree, Erin.
One requires one to make an effort and the other requires no effort on one’s part. With that said I’d have loved to have participated in protest however I do not live in that state. I try to do my part when I can here in my state. However, as a Legislative Representative for my Union, I can tell you I have never been able to garner much interest from other members to do something that doesnt impact them directly. I’ve stood out there many times as the only representative of my Union when supporting other Unions. Apathy runs rampant and no one wants to lift a finger if it doesnt affect them. I’ve given up my days off to support others. I hope if and when the day comes that we need support that those people will remember that sole woman who stood there with her sign in support of them.
Lynda-I think you’re right, and that is incredibly sad and does not bode well for our society. There is no participation in anything that does not affect one directly. We are disconnected.
Totally agree.
FLUORIDE.
We’re tired is all, and sick of the bullshit. I want to laugh, not cry and I want to enjoy the moment, not worry about the future every single day. People know there’s bad shit going on and important shit too, but what’s wrong with a little pleasure.
I secretly enjoy reading the tabloid headlines and once in a while even pick up one of those rags. I would rather read about Elvis in Oregon than Romney in Reno. One is a fun fantasy and the other a dark dream. I prefer the fun fantasy over the dark dream.
I am one of those people who tends to “like” what makes me laugh. Why would I “like” something that makes me sad?
I did my time in the military seeing combat in two theaters, so I’ve paid my dues and worried enough. I want to laugh and feel tears of fun, not cry and watch blood run. Been there done that.
Semper fi…