Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Should Facebook be Censored?

I often find myself prefacing my entries with a statement that sounds something like, I don't mean to offend anyone, but...and then I take a step back and realize that that's the point of a blog. To discuss the often un-discussed and leave it up for debate...if that's how things pan out.

So here goes...

I originally joined Facebook for one reason: to look at pictures. In my honest opinion, this is probably how a lot of people spend their time on Facebook...well....that is before this 'Farmville' thing came into the picture. What the hell is up with that anyway? I don't get it. Anyway...pictures are a great way to keep up with people who you maybe don't do such a great job keeping in touch with. And this is to no one's fault. People fall out of touch and that is just a way of life. There are some things, however, that are not meant to be as public as Facebook makes them and I feel quite obligated to bring this to the forefront in the hopes that it will come to a screaming hault.

Let it be known that I am in envy of any woman who gives birth to a child. This is probably the most amazing thing that any woman can do and I'm sure when (if) that day works out for me I'm sure it will be the miracle of life that I have been hearing about all these years. However...and this is a HUGE however...I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in thinking that it is a little much to post pictures of your newborn AS SOON AS he/she has been removed from the womb. Not only is it probably illegal to be taking pictures in a birthing room (I should look that up but I'm not going to) but it is just not something that everyone needs to see....EVER! I will repeat the fact that YES this is an amazing thing - child birth. But there are other ways to put it on display. Here are a couple that I appreciate.

1. The ever-classy birth announcement....sent through the REGULAR MAIL. This is usually an adorable picture involving some stuffed animals that are holding the baby in place and very often is sent in black and white for dramatic effect.
2. Newspaper announcement - I'm sure this is considered old school...and may not even be available in this day and age but if it is not available, it should be reinstated because I think that has a nice personal touch to it.
3. Email announcement - This way you can select those individuals who you are close enough with to share this special moment with you...NOT all of the so-called 'friends' you have on Facebook. Own up to the fact that you don't speak...actually ever speak...to more than half of them.

And the list goes on and on. I can also say without hesitation that I unfriended someone on Facebook because she posted her sonogram for the world to see. Too...much....information. Seriously. I'm much more comfortable seeing pictures of a woman turned to the side to show the baby bump. In fact I think this is borderline adorable. But a sonogram? Isn't that sort of private? I mean that's inside your body...think about that. Would you like to see what it looks like inside of my body? Probably not. So let's keep that all to ourselves.

I think I'm done ranting here. I really want to know what you all think because as always, I feel badly for calling people out...but my goodness. Before the child is even cleaned off? That's aggressive and in my opinion uncalled for.

Please share and my apologies, as usual, for any offense taken. Just making conversation.

Goodnight all.

2 comments:

  1. yeah - you are hilarious! I too don't care to even look at photos if they passed around that include "birth" photos. No one saw how "cheesy" my children looked. They saw them cleaned up and in clothing. Thank goodness for small favors and not posting their birth video on their facebook page.

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  2. People are f*cking weird today. Why would you do that? I mean, do people REALLY want to see that? I know we are in an age of information-sharing-overload... but BIRTHING photos? Oh yes, please, share with me photos of your child covered in who-the-heck-knows-what because clearly they will never be cuter than in that moment.

    I think I'm going to get full body x-rays and scans and post the photos on Facebook. I mean, doesn't everyone want to see what a sweet pancreas I have? Or how lovely my left kidney is? Oh... maybe someone would like to admire my patella and femur. Okay. I'm done now.

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