Facebook is such a hot topic. There are those who love and spend way too much time it (me). Then there are others that think it is the work of the devil (my darling hubby). I think the reservation people have is a direct result of what they see on TV and the news. Facebook has caused so many problems! It can cost people their jobs. It is a near occasion of sinful lustful thoughts in our young boys and a temptation for girls to ignorantly satisfy those desires. People will gossip to a wider audience. Relationships crumble, as people are more apt to speak their mind behind a computer screen. It can leak sensitive information to the enemy in the time of war...(I'm married to an officer...I had to add this to make him happy). Yes, Facebook can be a serious vice for some. BUT, it can be used for a greater good as well. It can be used to glorify God if used properly.
I opened my Facebook account about 2 years ago. (Geez, it seems like so much longer!) My son, Nick, had opened up an account and was asking me questions on how to do it. I panicked and ran straight to my computer to ask my trusted homeschool loop what their opinion was. To my surprise, most everyone was in favor and they were all on the same page about monitoring it. So, thats what I did. I opened my account for the soul purpose of spying on my son. And boy do I spy! There should be some kind of award for how well and frequently I spy. If Obama can get a Nobel Peace Prize for just having some warm and fuzzy feelings, there should be something for me! This is where I begin my defense of Facebook.
1. My kids can see the real love for God their friends have that isn't talked about when they are together playing video games, sledding or watching a movie.
2. I can answer all the questions I get from the friend to the stranger, "How do you do it?...How can you afford it?...Don't you go crazy?...Do you get any free time?...etc. etc. etc.!
3. My acquaintances are now my friends. I'm talking to more people in the vestibule at my church now
4. Farmville (There will be a Farmville blog soon!)
5. I can see the hurt that some people go through and be there for them....especially the teens
6. I can promote my causes (Prolife, Conservative candidate, Boy Scouts, Theology of the Body, chastity talks, etc.)
7. My neighbors don't have to think I'm just an old woman in a shoe. I actually have a life that I enjoy and that is worth reading about.
8. It has opened discussions with Nick about what is appropriate and what isn't. (Don't complain about your boss on your status!)
9. My kids have priests and brothers on their friends lists and have developed closer relationships with them. (No nuns yet. Guess their too busy for Facebook:)
10. We grow closer to our faith by sharing our faith with one another, even those who have none or who have questions for us.
11. I can have small, meaningless, fun talks with people that help build relationships.
12. Don't have to wait until Christmas to "catch up"
13. Its a great avenue to ask for prayers
14. You can laugh more often and make others laugh. It keeps the world happy.
15. I have no time for non-virtual friends. I can get my fix here.
16. I am constantly learning. I can post a math question on my status and get the answer a few minutes later.
17. I have watched my son talk to girls on Chat about their purity and what it is worth. I have to hide in the bathroom and read it. He usually falls asleep 1/2 way through reading my blogs which was about #10 so he probably won't see this.
18. I can play and have fun with my kids on Facebook. We play games, and have cute "I Love You's" being posted back and forth.
19. I can now keep in touch with aunts and cousins that I had given up on ever seeing again
20. We can plan a grade school and High School reunion
My biggest pet peeve is not with Facebook but with parents who don't pay attention to what their kids are doing on it. I can't tell you the number of times that I have shared information with parents about their own kids that they didn't know. Some good, some funny, some very serious. I don't suggest that you learn all of my spy skills (I may or may not go overboard:). But, when your child is hurting, 1500 people shouldn't hear about it before you. Your child is more important than anything that is keeping you too busy to keep yourself up-to-date. When it gets abused, snatch it away like a thief in the night. When it is used to bring you and your friends closer to each other and to God, watch the blessings come down. It will be a virtue or a vice. Make it a virtue or cut it off.
As with most tools, the “is it good or bad” determination is generally decided by the user’s intentions, not the tool itself. People don't trust of Facebook due to--just as you mentioned--the ease of sharing thoughts/pictures which we might otherwise be more cautious about in person. Where children are concerned, as always: a parent should be a parent, if that's not apparent; in other words, get involved in your children's lives by whatever means and at whatever cost.
ReplyDeleteDave Ramsey refered to money as "amoral". I found that interesting and was trying to think of other examples of "amoral" things. Facebook is another good example. It lacks goodness or badness but it take on the personality of the weilder just like money does.
ReplyDeleteYour doing great things at home, church, and everywhere else Katy and Roy! Keep it up!