Feeding Frenzy on Facebook

8:15 AM: I find a happy photo with a meme and I post it on my feed.  I am the first to “like” it so that it will push to the top of the main FB feed my friends see. 

-       Like # 2

-       Like #3

-       Grumpy Face.  A link is attached.  There is NOTHING happy about last night’s catastrophe, controversy, corruption! (I do not respond.)

8:20 AM: I post a corny, non-political, joke.  I like puns.  I “like” it.

-       Like# 2, 3, 4, 5

-       A “friend” corrects an irksome, grammatical error as if I hadn’t noticed it also. (I do not acknowledge.  I refuse to be put on the defensive.)

8:25 AM: I try my luck with an uplifting quote, a familiar verse often used in literature and song. I “like” it.

-       Like #2

-       Scolded again.  This time for forcing a Bible verse on those who prefer I keep religious references to myself.  (I remind myself to do this again tomorrow.)

8:30 AM: I post a link on my feed, current news.  I share without a “like,” without a comment, without an emoji. 

-       An immediate slam, an accusation of being vile, complicit, divisive. (I delete this comment.  It is MY feed.  I unfriend this person, ban them from my posts.)

I log out.  I need a breather, a cup of coffee, breakfast.

1 PM: HoneyBunch and I return from running errands in town.  Lunch at a new place.  I tag the place, post a photo of my order, and a nice comment on the food and the service.  Again, I “like” my own comment to boost it on the main feed.

-       Some stranger (not on my friend list) contradicts my comments.  They found lipstick on their glass of ice tea, they had to swat at flies in the dining room, the server was rude. . ..

-       I delete their libelous comment.  Again, it is MY post, not theirs.

7 PM: I post a picture of the novel I just finished.  I congratulate and tag the author on a job well done. (I “like” my comment.)

-       Like #2, 3, 4

-       Comments of agreement. I interact with them and ask for other book suggestions.

-       One person talks about the slow pacing, the historical inconsistencies, the exorbitant price, best to buy it second hand. Author So and So did a better job on the same topic.

-       I consider deleting this comment, but when others come on and disagree with this person, I leave it at that.

7:15 PM: Wow! Look at this recipe. (Like.)

-       Like # 2. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

-       I can’t have sugar.  Can you post this recipe without sugar?

-       Is this gluten free?

-       It has chocolate.  I don’t eat chocolate that is not ethically harvested!

-       I comment that the recipe is not mine.  I just like  to look at doughnuts.

9 PM: I log out.  I know I should post consistently but I have had enough of “prime time” FB. (7 pm – 9 pm)

3 AM: Insomnia.  I scroll though FB, searching for posts I want to post on  my feed.  No one bothers me as I read and post. I ignore spam, click-bait, and anything  I dislike. I post something funny, and I “like” it.

-       Aw.  Are you up?  Insomnia?

-       Something bothering you?

-       Do you need a virtual hug? An emoji?  A gif?

I log out and go to bed.