I’ve become quite an expert when it comes to Facebook. For quite a few years. How many? I can’t figure out how to tell.

OK, almost an expert.

Experience has taught me a lot of things about this social media platform, so I thought I’d just put them all down into a handy collection for people to review occasionally and check to see if they’re doing it right.  There are some definite do’s and don’ts:

• The Games  Seriously, I think it’s wonderful that you have enough spare time to play the slot machines or another version of Candy Crush on Facebook but I’m begging you, PLEASE don’t invite me to play. At first, I figured we must not know each other very well. But the invites just kept coming. I have since developed a “three strikes and you’re out” rule, just in case you’re wondering how you thought we were connected and now, are no longer.
• Political Posts  You wouldn’t think this is necessary, but a request–give thought to what you’re going to put up on Facebook.  I don’t know about you, but I go there to keep up with friends, share a laugh, update the family, etc.  It amazes me that people think if they put up something that supports their political agenda that people opposed to it are going to want to see it? You don’t care?  I’ve gotten that impression. So, another three strikes rule went into effect. First, I click that little triangle in the upper right corner of your post and it gives me the option of “Hiding all posts from _________.”  You posted something from AngryWhackJobs.com?  I click on that triangle and it allows me to hide all future posts from that website. See?  Isn’t that easy? So, if you thought I was checking my Facebook to find the latest instructions from you on how to think, you’re actually just posting that for yourself.  Tell you what, if you take all that time you’re wasting on posting things people don’t actually read and put that towards your cause, you just might create some change.
• Personal Information The phrase TMI was created for a reason. Look, I care about you and your well-being and if you have a health issue, concern or want to request a prayer, bring it on. Send me a PERSONAL note. One-on-one. Do you really think that everyone wants to see pictures of your toe fungus or that new scar?  Think of Facebook like being on a train with a friend. There’s an easel where you can post pictures. That friend may care about it or at least, pretend to…but all the others? Take a guess.
• Blindly Reposting Things Somewhere along the line, people adopted the belief that, “Well, if it’s on Facebook, it must be true!”  Rather than trying to set the world speed record for reposting something from the first second you read it, do a little vetting. Yes, the war continues on “fake news”, but I see it daily. And depending on the day, if I see a friend fall into that trap, I’ll carve out five minutes to find the site that disproves it and then forward that information along to the person who posted it. It happens at least once a week. I’m not right or left, I’m in the middle and proudly like to think for myself. That’s why facts are so important to me, and political slant ticks me off. Sadly, politics today is basically cranking out negative stuff about the other side to the faithful, so that they know you’re going to buy into it and keep perpetuating it. And that’s too bad.

The key thought here: think before you post. There is a wealth of negative things out there right now. Why bring them to Facebook? Positive feeds on positive. I think you can figure out what negative feeds on.

For all of this country’s faults, for all the problems going on in the world, for everything not going your way if you were the global ruler, we’re all doing pretty well. Appreciate it.

And if you don’t, why drag it out into the social media arena for all to see?  Well, that is, until you become my next un-follow.

Tim Hunter