To share or not to share...

Once upon a time I couldn’t sleep for thinking about all the blog posts and Facebook comments I should be writing (no honestly, my life has never been quite that empty) 

However, at one time this blog used to be my sounding board where I spoke about my dreams, voiced my frustrations with things that I thought were unfair and of course wrote about everything in between.

Now I share all of those thoughts, dreams and frustrations between here, my morning pages in my handwritten journal and the written pages of my next book that I’m writing. I have learnt to self-censor, not for any other reason but that I’m certain that people don’t want to hear or read about shit in my life or people who annoy me.

I have a Facebook account and while my blog posts automatically post there, I very rarely comment on other people’s statuses. I’m a bit of a lurker and there is no apology for that. The thing is do some people realise just how much information they share with the world? Do I really want to know what you ate for dinner, or how much your boyfriend is being an idiot at the moment, or even about your mother’s latest illness?

Let me tell you – I don’t need to know at all

Let’s be honest, sometimes you feel better knowing that you’re not alone with ‘everyday’ problems and hassles. The thing is though, reading what people have to say when they’re never positive and constantly moaning about everything which is wrong in the world does get a little bit tired after a while. If people put that much energy into improving their own lives and making things better for themselves then the world would be a better place.

Hubby always jokes that people might as well write about their toilet habits because some are so open about their lives through social media. He refuses to have a Facebook account for that reason.

Has social media and technology removed our ability to self-censor, or has it simply made it so easy to make statements that we wish we could take back were we to stop and think about what we’re saying.

Here are my rules for blogging, social media and the like;

• If I wouldn’t say it to my mother’s face, then I shouldn’t be writing it at all
• If it has the potential to come back and bite me on the bum down the track, then better not to write it
• If I’m embarrassed for my children to know it or read it then don’t be sharing it
• If I read the same thing on someone else's page and think what an idiot they are for putting it out to the masses, then I probably shouldn’t mention it myself.
• Why should I give people ammunition against me by making dumb comments or slandering someone else. I can voice my frustrations without naming and blaming as long as it’s not a daily rant
• Life happens, shit also happens and some things need to be kept where they belong, discreet and not for public consumption

What are your thoughts on social media and people’s openness?