Recently a lady sent me a message about something very personal going on in her life. She wanted my counsel. She “assumed” I read her message when she sent it. (She said it had a marker by it that “looked” like I had read it). Well, I hadn’t read it. I may have opened it during my busy schedule during a day in the office or while I was on the road. I get literally hundreds of messages a day. But, I hadn’t read her message.
A day or so ago I got another message from her telling me that she couldn’t believe that I did not respond to her message that she sent over a week ago. She “felt” I should have responded. I’m now feeling some kind of way and want to respond to let her know that I’m clueless about why she feels like she does. So, when I go to write a response out of respect and because I think it’s the right thing to do, she’s already DELETED me from her Facebook friends. I looked at her message again and saw that it said, I will never talk to you or bother you again.
Three things you should know:
#1 I have never have had a personal conversation with this
woman before.
#2 I don’t know her personally.
#3 I wouldn’t know her if she walked up to me right now and
handed me a glass of water.
#4 It is my desire to make it right with her, but she’s gone!
THIS IS “NOT’ HOW TO USE FACEBOOK!!!!!
So, Here are some thoughts from my own heart as to “How not to use Facebook.
How not to use Facebook 101
#1. Don’t use Facebook to do what I just explained above.
#2. Don’t use Facebook to gossip, lie, slander or throw shade.
#3. Don’t use Facebook to make yourself look “bigger” than
what you really are. (It’s hard to be “big” when “little” got
you.
#4. Don’t use Facebook to bully people online that you
could never bully in person.
#5. Don’t use Facebook to be messy, by supporting people
that you know you don’t really like, but you know it would
bother someone that you’re suppose to be friends with.
#6. Don’t use Facebook as a platform to break up with
someone that you’re in a relationship with.
If you’re a Christian:
#6. Don’t use Facebook to divide, cause confusion or to force
your opinion on others who can’t discern truth from error.
#7. Don’t use Facebook to let folk know you’ve left a ministry.
#8 Don’t use Facebook to disrespect your spiritual leadership.
#9 Don’t use Facebook to flaunt a less than godly lifestyle.
#10 Don’t use Facebook to show a false allegiance to
someone, only to show the same false allegiance to
someone else a little later.
#11 Don’t use Facebook to build your self-esteem or to make
true friends.
#12 Don’t use Facebook if you can’t say in person what you
feel empowered to say online.
#13 Don’t use Facebook as a gauge to assess what is or isn’t going on in anyone’s life…If you need to know pick up the phone and call.
Of course this is not exhaustive and of course it’s just my thoughts. It is my hope that someone would at least consider these while using Facebook. So much is lost and misconstrued in the Facebook world. So many saints are just messy and disrespectful to each other and to leadership period.
My goal? To share with those who follow me and who are my friends some things that will help keep their minds at peace and represent the kingdom of God properly.
HOW NOT TO USE FACEBOOK 101
(If you agree with it, SHARE IT).
—Vaughn McLaughlin