Status Update

How’s everybody doing today? What’s on you’re minds? I’ll share something with you that’s been on my mind. Have any of you every taken a class on how to share with others what is on your mind? have you every been taught how to say what you’re thinking? For most of us the answer is “no”.
This is a process each of us go through many times a day,
“Hello, how are you today?”
“I am fine thank you. And you’re self?”
“How’s it going, man?”
“good, you?”
“What’s up?”
“nothing, what about you?”
you get it. We’re raised to inquire of others how they are, what’s their status. We’re told it is polite to announce our state of mind to the people around us, and more so if they ask.
Well this isn’t entirely true...
We are raised to be curious as to what’s going on in the live’s of the people around us, and to proclaim to the world what we are up to, although sometimes in the most subtle of ways (shoes, clothing, backpack, etc.) because of this, it comes as no surprise that the most addicting drug on the internet promotes us to express our feelings and announce to the world what we are up to. I’m referring of course to Facebook.

We all sense it, whether you have put words to it or not, this status updating has gotten out of control! Which is why I will attempt to explain how to post a proper status update on Facebook keeping three things in mind.

First, Facebook sets the criteria in the very status update box that many of us spam with our mindless updates, including myself from time to time. They ask, “what’s on your mind?” and let me get this out straight away: inviting people to join animal farm is not a status update! If it were you’re update it might read, “I’m playing a really dumb online game, would anyone care to join me?” However, by our first criteria we can see that even this wouldn’t work, because when you’re playing animal farm we all know that nothing is on your mind, at all. That’s why you’re playing animal farm!

Second, a status update shouldn’t be whatever menial task you find yourself doing at the moment you update. for example, “I’m playing a really dumb online game, would anyone care to join me?” or “I’m doing homework” or “I’m drinking coffee”
The reason this is not an acceptable status update is because when someone asks you “what’s on your mind?” you wouldn’t respond by saying “I’m drinking coffee.” The question, “What’s on your mind?” is asking something deeper than just what you are up to at that moment.

Third, song lyrics aren’t a status update. let’s go back to the formal question, “What’s on your mind?” yes, a song might be stuck in your head but that isn’t what’s on your mind. hopefully, you’re thinking about more than the latest pop song lyrics.

If everyone on Facebook were to keep these three things in mind to proper status updating, it would cut down 75% of the mindless, attention seeking status updates that most of us try to ignore anyway.
Lets take a look at what a good status update does. Good status updates are thoughts that you have that you might want some feedback on. When a loving father asks his teenage son or daughter “what’s on your mind?” the son or daughter would respond with whatever life issue they are facing at that moment. Like, “I just don’t know how to impress this certain someone.” and then dad would give advice. or, “Why does everyone find me so attractive?” I’m sure everyone here identifies with that one :)

I’m here to say that the social grouping that is your friends list, is your social parent and you can tell them what is on your mind to share a little of the frustrations, happiness, questions, enigma’s or the gripping thoughts that subdue your thinking. So they can know you a little better and so you can be known a little better.

So the next time you update you’re status, think first, is this really something on my mind? second, is this just a menial task? third, is this a song lyric? Keeping these three things in mind, together we can change the face of facebook.