Saturday, January 08, 2011

This and that and Facebook


It’s finally beginning to look like winter around here… We have had a mild winter so far, so the snow is welcomed. And it’s beautiful! On Thursday, I got out on cross country skis, getting my legs back into the stride. On Friday, I was back downhill skiing (they’ve been able to make plenty of snow and this hill is closer to Lake Michigan, so it picks up plenty of lake-effect snow). I was a chaperon with a bunch of middle schoolers, but had fun and the snow was wonderful and throughout the evening it kept falling. This morning, the skies are clear and it is a beautiful, yet cold, day.

And to take a page from Murf’s and Kathryn’s playbook (that is asking for Facebook advice in a blog), I ask: should I call my son regarding a comment on Facebook (from the sister of my daughter-in-law) asking my daughter-in-law if things have improved? Social media often gives us more information than we need to know…



16 comments:

  1. Sounds as if you are getting some wonderful exercise with that cross country skiing as well as the good that you do by chaperoning middle schoolers.

    My gut reaction is to say, no. Don't mention what you spotted on facebook, but keep in close contact with your son - which you probably do anyway.

    It never ceases to amaze me the things people post on facebook without realizing that it goes out to half the world. The comment you read might not have anything to do with their marriage. Let's hope.

    Just my 2 cents. :)

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  2. Re: The Facebook question. It depends, I think, whether all the players know you've got access to the comments. Perhaps I'm a social media illiterate, but one would think if such comments are public, and you're a "friend" with access to them, then they're fair game for further inquiry.

    But what do I know? I'm not on Facebook, though my daughter let's me look at her page when she's home from college.

    BTW, thanks for the e-mail. I've replied.

    Cheers.

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  3. Ah yes you have a wonderful winter wonderland and are making good use of the bounty! I'm really dreaming of spring and things getting back in working order around here, we are in frigid temps again, sadly, but after the storm comes the sunshine and you love it all the more right! As for Fb..hmmm sometimes I feel less is better there, it seems with such a wide range of personalities things are sometimes taken wrong, or cause more bad then good....I like being upbeat and sharing photos with family and friends and being lighter...nobody there (except my family) even knows a thing about our frozen tank....or that using too much bleach can cause...well enough of that..Enjoy the fun stuff of winter while you can Sage...love hearing what you're up to!

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  4. We are about to face another glimpse of winter here. I do find it beautiful, but I don't think I would enjoy it on a regular basis. Still want to try skiing, I think it would be something I would enjoy. As for FB, if there is something posted by someone I consider to be close then I have no issue with contacting them privately to make sure everything is OK or offer assistance if they need it. I operate under the following principle: it is the WWW and if you don't want to world to know about it then don't post it. It really all depends on how involved you want to be with someone on your FB. There are somethings I ignore and others I follow up on. If I feel that support would be needed or welcomed, then I follow up.

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  5. Sage you dont seem old enough to have a son that is married. I dont like Facebook. It is a trashy place, where people make throw-away remarks which unfortunately only have gravitas because they are published plain for all to see. I would try not to worry about what you read there. But do call your son and ask how he is going. xxooo Michaela

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  6. I enjoy Facebook; I have reconnected with many former coworkers, but I am still trying to figure out why people get so personal. No one would go into their office and scream out their personal issues, why do it on facebook? same thing.

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  7. I'm no facebook fan simply because it keeps reinventing itself and changing an already confusing interface. It is crap design.

    I've made contact with folks from the past on facebook, but after a few exchanges, what else is there to say?

    As long as other lines of communication are open between you and someone in your family, I wouldn't inquire into some vague/careless comment by a third party I happened to see. That's my 2 cents.

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  8. I have no Facebook page.

    But as to your Question--- Private is--as Private does. (In my Best ForGump Voice.)

    Yes--I think too much info is passed and "I" think it also takes away from our accountability for our actions and words--as you will always find Someone--(You may not even know) to support your side.

    John

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  9. I would never get too personal on FB...just on my blog. lol ;)

    Actually, I enjoy FB and use it to catch up with old friends and see their pics, they see mine; so far it hasn't given me any nightmares.

    Now that winter wonderland of yours...is sure to give me sweet dreams. Love that last pic in b & w! N'ice!!

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  10. I think you should look at anything on FB or other such sites at one would of anything you encountered on the public street. So, ask don't ask, no matter as long as you qualify it with the reference to seeing it on FB you'll be covered for then you'll be quoting the FB statement rather than the veracity of the issue.
    As I see FB, it is little more than today's version of the gossipy street corner. And no kinder or nastier, truer or falser than that corner. It's just one hell of a lot pushier about getting the info'.

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  11. Our winter has been very mild this year, far more than last year.

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  12. After three years of breaking my back scooping out the driveway, I bought a snowblower. Last year I would have used it a couple dozen times in some serious snow but this year I've used it twice and shoveling would have been faster in both cases. But that is still okay with me.

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  13. If the comment was on DIL's FB page, probably not. It's too easy to misunderstand the context. Should you call your son and see how things are going in general? Absolutely.

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  14. I dislike Facebook as I find it far too invasive. I'll just stick to blogging and the wonderful community out here. Beautiful photos, as always.

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  15. Ooh, that's a doozy.

    I'd leave it alone. I think talking to your son is fine, asking how things are going is fine, (not just the marriage, but life) but I think that mentioning what you saw is a no-go.

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  16. Wow, that's a tough one. We definitely seem to be living in the era of TMI (and TMZ).

    The only skiing I've ever done is on water, and very little of that. But if we get any more of these 8-inch snows...

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