"How do you feel about being friends with Parents/Immediate Family/Relatives on Facebook?" - ANON
Let me first start by saying that Facebook is a "social networking site." If you don't want your family circling around your social network, than don't add them. That being said, let's jump right into it!
Parents
Honestly, I believe that there should be a certain amount of boundaries between a parent and a child. When I went to counseling when I was younger I was told that the main problem with the relationship I had with my parents (specifically my mother) was that "your parents are your parents before they are your friends." I know that there are certain things I want to remain private in my life although I share almost everything with my mother. At least that way I have the choice whether to tell her things or not and she simply won't just find out through Facebook. I think that if I personally chose to befriend certain family members on Facebook that I would feel the need to censor myself. For example, I like to use the word fuck a lot. If I happened to be friends with my mother on Facebook, I would need to change the way I talk or update statuses. I don't feel comfortable censoring myself if I don't need to.
Immediate Family
I guess this would include siblings and step siblings. They're your age so the understand the social networking thing slightly better than your parents who would constantly be asking how to do something (at least my parents would). If you have a good relationship with them than I don't see why you shouldn't be friends with them. Unless you're afraid your goodey good sibling will run and tell your parents everything you're doing. That would drive me absolutely insane! My brother and I get along fantastically now that we're older, and the only reason I'm not friends with him on Facebook is because he doesn't have one.
Relatives
This would include aunts/uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. I don't know about you, but my family talks A LOT. If i posted that something was wrong in my life i'd have them crawling in my personal business. I only have one relative on my Facebook, and that is my cousin of a close age i grew up with. We've had our ups and downs and realized, we're a lot more similar than we had imagined. It's one of the few ways I have to keep in contact with her. But think of all the crazy things people post on Facebook. Maybe you have jokes that have racist tones to them that your family would find highly offensive. Maybe you swear a lot. Maybe you flirt a lot and openly. Or for you ladies out there? Think about the crazy breast cancer status games that go out... I'll tell you right now if any of my family (cousin excluded) saw a status that says "I like it on the kitchen counter" they would all think I'm some sort of exhibitionist whore because I'm announcing it to the world. Try explain what "7 inches :-(" means to your grandmother. See how that conversation works out for you.
Or in general, think of all the silly ridiculous pictures you post of doing silly things in Walmart. Do you really want to try and explain why you're holding a phallic object and your friend is trying to blow it to your grandmother? I know I wouldn't. If you try do to the "cool thing" and all your pics are that emo Myspace style where you don't smile, be prepared to have your relatives say "you know, you'd look so much prettier if you smiled." Yeah, no thanks. I don't want that kind of nitpicking on my site.
In conclusion, I've heard of enough Facebook drama going around. Why would you need to add to that? If you have a relationship with your family that can handle that and not cause undue stress? By all means go for it! I just personally think if you wanna keep your family in the loop, call them! Go visit them! Myself? I'll keep it to my select few who I consider friends and not just family.
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