To Post or Not to Post?
- Rebekah "Bucky" Mallory
- Jan 5, 2016
- 3 min read
Ever wonder what's deemed as appropriate to post on social media? Is there even a concern anymore with everyone and their grandmother posting anything from pictures of what normal bowel movements should look like to cute cat videos? What is culturally acceptable in this ever growing technological society? A close friend and family member asked on social media "Why do I see so many friends posting their workout videos?" Before we go down this rabbit hole, let me state: my goal isn't to instigate a damn thing except further exploration into what exactly is acceptable vs what is seen as annoying. I thought her question was appropriately timed and it made me think: what is one's point when posting? What is the ultimate goal? (Including my own).
The intent of some posts are simply to share information, recipes, life hacks, DIY steps/videos, news, current events and the like. From that comes the dialogue of varying opinions, backgrounds and biases. Then you have the annoying health and fitness people (I am a part of that bunch). Why? I have yet to figure that out myself; it, and I, are a work in progress. I guess I share the fitness photos and videos for accountability. If I don't post it, did it actually happen? I know it did but does anyone else? And what's more does anyone care? And since when do I care whether anyone else knows? I don't need validation, I'm simply thinking with the keyboard and a Fighting Irish coffee/mocha (which is amazing).
Yet, that leads me to my question: to post or not to post? If there was no social media, would I be walking up to total strangers and showing them a video I took of myself working out to hold myself accountable? Would I be showing anyone on the street photos of various kinds of poop, and what a normal one looks like? Or pictures of my dogs? (They're adorable, by the way). I would definitely show friends over dinner or coffee and perhaps the topic of my stool would come up, who knows? Would I share that with just anyone on the street? I'm leaning towards no. Some posts capture those special moments and it's nice to have the ability to document, save and share them. Some post to raise awareness, some for advice, some to vent, some do need their existence validated. Bottom line- there are so many reasons to post. I suppose, for me, I only want to be sure of a few things before I do:
Is it kind? Is it helpful? Is someone having a better day because of something I said or posted?
Is my post going to incite some type of social media envy? I try to meet that criteria before I post anything simply because I see so much that isn't helpful, kind, informative and yeah, at times, I experience that envy. Then I remember, social media doesn't have to necessarily show real life. It's a tool in which we choose what we share. In "real life", if we're fighting with our spouse and a friend drops by, they sense the tension, and if they're smart, they excuse themselves. On social media, can we sense the tension? Or do we chime in with our opinions and advice furiously from the keyboard because we can? Is there a lot we say and do behind the keyboard because there, and only there, we can be what my husband calls "typing tough guys"?
Are we headed down some technological social/anti-social form of communication that we can never come back from? Am I an almost 40 year old simply adjusting to this new age of technology and this is gonna be the norm, like it or not? Why do you post?
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