Journalist. Mother. Bunny enthusiast. Pop culture junkie.

Journalist. Mother. Bunny enthusiast. Pop culture junkie.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Life without Facebook

Four days without Facebook and it feels like an eternity.

I've e-mailed them twice about the incident, hoping they will restore my profile, but I have not heard anything. I guess I just have to be patient. It is the holidays, after all. I might not hear anything until the new year perhaps...

It's bizarre.

I have had my facebook for five years and checked it every single day. I didn't realize how much a part of my life facebook was until it was gone.

I find myself going to the computer and typing my username, only to remember what happened. It's just instinct.

And now I'm not quite sure what to do with my free time.

There is nobody to poke. No witty status update to write. No photos to upload. No walls to write on.

I feel like I'm standing outside of society. It makes me uneasy that I don't know what my cousins did over the weekend or what new band my best friend in Milwaukee is listening to or what that kid from my high school biology class ate for breakfast.

I'm so used to knowing these little trivial things about people that it feels wrong not to know anymore.

I don't think I am the only one who feels this way. Our generation revolves around Facebook and other social networking sites in a way. It's how we communicate with each other, it's how we learn more about each other, it's how we meet each other, and it's how we feel confident about ourselves. Our profile is our mirror and our number of friends makes us feel more popular, even though in reality about 85 percent of those people are basically former acquaintances.

I can't even remember what life was like without facebook. What did I do with my time? How did I contact friends? Did I even have any friends? I don't know. I don't remember.

I guess being on facebook helped me feel like I was part of a community. My friends list was a huge number (382) of people from all aspects of my life. Former school classmates, girls who used to be in my ballet class, that guy I had my first kiss with, my old professors, my coworkers, all the people I hung out with in college, etc. Pretty much almost every person I interacted with at some point in my life was on my facebook. Like a small town of people I know.

Even though I might not have spoken to a person in 15 years, the protection of a computer screen allowed me to compliment their new hair style or "like" one of their status updates.

And now I'm stuck in the real world with nobody. If someone says something witty at the grocery store, I'm not going to give them a thumbs up. It doesn't work that way.

I'm not going to bring my poking war with my coworkers into the real world. That would be weird and creepy. And sometimes if you have long nails, poking in real life can hurt.

I'm not going to stand up on top of my apartment building and tell everyone what book I'm reading. I'm not going to stand on a street corner and status update my life.

So I guess I will just have to wait until Facebook responds to my e-mails. As torturous as it may be.

I am a child of the digital age. What else can I say?

37 comments:

Leah said...

I know how you feel...Facebook helped me reconnect with a lot of old friends. And it is a magical tool of communication. Just be patient, bombard them with emails.

Food for thought: at least you will be free from the live page feed of farmville, cafe world etc for a few days. That's what I hate about FB, those notices about so and so crafting something in cafe world or buying something in farmville. Hahaha!

Happy holidays Jennifer. Smile... you'll get your FB back soon.

Jessica Samantha said...

OMG, that sucks!
My entire life is Facebook, as well... scary.

*hopes Jennifer gets her Facebook back, soon*

Unknown said...

Oh jennifer, I really felt sorry for you. you don't deserve it at all. I can't imagine life without facebook anymore. how did i survive before it?

Don't worry Jen, I'll tell Santa to give you back facebook if nothing else. =)

xx,
betz
http://herarmoire.blogspot.com

Leia said...

Poor Jennifer :(

But I wish you weren't so witty... I didn't know whether I should be laughing (the real life poking war with colleagues was the best part) or feeling bad! /hugs

Mina said...

This is really deep. I hadn't noticed how much myspace, facebook, and blogger are a part of my life. It really is instinct. I really do hope facebook will reply to you soon!

Couture Carrie said...

Darling, you are still connected to your blogger friends!

Good luck with FB :)

xoxox,
CC

Jaime @ laviejaime said...

We are all children of the digital age- it's insane to think of life pre-cell phones & facebook. Hang in there- hopefully you'll get an xmas facebook miracle! :)

noone said...

haha. yeah I think I cannot live without my blackberry now too. Or a place without cell network. I need to check my emails etc. A while back I actually got off Facebook because of some stockish incident, so I'm in the clear for that hehe hope they will restore your account soon! <3

Tights Lover said...

That is terrible. I'm sorry to hear this. I really hope everything gets restored soon. I can't believe one vengeful person could do something like this!

Thanks for your comment...you are sooo kind!

Aquiles Damiron-Alcantara said...

This sucks....

I just don't understand how it happened. So random.

I miss you on FB... :)

Aquiles

Ton Amour said...

You're brilliance astounds me.
Remember when I had that old facebook and it stoppped working because I tried to change my password and main email at the same time? I sent them four emails... I am still waiting to hear back... hmmm... 14 months ago... Anyways we need to figure out a different way to resolve this situation. Facebook is bland without your flair. I miss you on my wall. I miss your funny updates. I love that you are friends with people I know that you met once, and I love that I am friends with people you know that I have only met once. I love that we both friended that one satanic painter (just for kicks).
FACEBOOK NEEDS YOU JB!

Sherin said...

You're right. Facebook really is a huge part of our lives. It makes interacting with others and getting to know them so much easier.

I'm sure the fb administrators will get back to you as soon as they can.

Mrs. M. said...

girl, i never had any type of technology growing up. no cell phones, no internet, no nothing. but now i find myself tied to twitter, blogger, texting, etc. I can definitely relate to your perils.

Beth Dunn said...

Start a new one now just so you have something. Who knows if they'll ever restore it. There isn't even a customer service number as far as I know. I already miss you on FB. Friend me Beth Willson Dunn and we can chat. Best of luck girl. xoxo

SC

ps sorry to give you advice when you didn't ask for it.

Beth Dunn said...

I'd follow you anywhere. Just beware of the stalker GF. God bless and merry merry! xoxo

SC

Sydnie said...

I understand exactly how you feel! I'm on my Facebook constantly, and it's all I use in my free time. I think that our world should get a little bit less technology dependent and discover the true meaning of life. Have you ever heard of Henry David Thoreau? I was forced to read about him in English class, but he makes many valid points: we should enjoy what we have around us. Good luck with your Facebook predicament! I hope you get it back before the holidays!

Sydnie
www.takemeouttotherunway.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Oh girl. These are harsh times. Like Leah says, just flood them with a million emails. Make them hear your cries.

I use FB to connect with all my bazillion trillion family around the world, it's like a sunday dinner with the family, a way to catchup, and know that there are alot of people there for you.

Without this world, flickr and FB, I'd be a digital hermit!

Have a beautiful and utterly wonderful christmas xoxo

Barry said...

Hmm, what to do with all that free time? You could pick up the phone and drop a line to some friends who'd really love to chat with you.

No one in particular of course, I'm just sayin'....

;)

Absolutely Ladylike said...

Next to my blog I really don't have time for Facebook :-( But I would go crazy as well without my blog LOL.

Wishing you Merry Christmas and a beautiful holiday season dear Jennifer, much love: Evi

Anonymous said...

facebook has become a part of our lives and its crazy how we can't act without it. facebook is just an ego booster. it makes us feel popular and like people care. it's so much easier to like someone's status than it is to pick up the phone and hold a conversation. people used to need dedication, and courage to keep up relationships. i kinda wish we could go back to working on those skills. or one day we'll realize we don't know how to react to one another, and we'll all be socially awkward. losing your facebook may be a blessing in disguise. it may be a chance to go find new ways of connecting with people or maybe yourself.

Ton Amour said...

Wow, you didn't answer my text or email... Did the Colorado wh**e kill you? Nah, couldn't be.. I'd get to her first... I'm worried. Call me. Please. I have to tell you about the state of my heart... which is blossoming with a kind of love I'd only imagined in dreams... consumed by my frail wasting body, full of unconditional misgivings. Please my bestie friend, answer the call of the wild one...

Ton Amour said...

Will. Like the Bison on a Prehistoric Prairie, I am stronger than all of the other creatures that I see... they fall down and play dead before me... my charm... ;)
Wow ... Excuse me... I must go.. and prey upon a little froggie I see...

Ton Amour said...

Jowls.

Cafe Fashionista said...

I've only become a part of the Facebook craze over the past six months, but I would literally die without it. I feel horrible that you've been banned!!!

Is there any way to create a new Facebook, or have they stopped you from using the site forever?? :/

Liya said...

dude i TOTALLY feel the same way whenever i have to be away from facebook or whenever it isn't working

myglitteringcreation.blogspot.com

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Ughhhhhhhh, I hope FB does right by you lady!

MJ. said...

I know what u mean...can't remember either how life was before all these communication tools...I guess I was so young when it all started that I can't remember how I interactuated with friends...
Do u imagine life without any of them? How would u keep in touch with friends from the other side of the planet? How would u meet new people? How would u get to know so many things about them? I know it has made our lives less private but...that's just because we allow it to be that way...

Stay patient and your social life will come back :P

XX

M said...

That sucks, hun! I don't use FB that much myself, but I would be pissed if someone had it deleted for no particular reason!

Hope you get it back soon! xoxo

Couture Carrie said...

Merry Christmas, darling!!

xoxox,
CC

Barry said...

Jennifer my dear, how can I begin to tell you how glad I am that Sandy and I have met you? You've been a constant in our lives since we first started talking.

I know it's a tough time of year for you and things overall have been rough. But soon we'll be into the new year and I truly believe with everything I have that things will begin to turn around for you. You need to believe that too.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas. Know that you're on our mind and in our hearts, and we'll be here for you in any way we can.

So glad we're friends.

Hugs,

Barry

G said...

First of all I love the name of your blog. 2nd this would KILL ME DEAD. I feel so sad for you. I spent 29 minutes changing my profile pic. Important stuff
PS thanks for commenting on my guest post at bonbonrose! following now

The Pocket Stylist said...

How funny Happy Holidays lady. Great post

Tom Bailey said...

At least when you put up a post here you do not get 50 percent posts with 2 word responces. You can see genuine caring in your blogging friends.

You can use it as a way to get rid facebook people you do not care to know. Maybe you could get them all to follow your blog and send emails instead? I have found that smarter people blog more than facebook and if people are really busy email works just as well as facebook and if I really want to be in touch I will text or call them directly.

I hope that your holiday gets better.

Kindest regards,
Tom Bailey

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

I may be the only one without an account!
Hope for the best~
Happy Holidays dear~
xo as always! PEACE*

Unknown said...

i am not actually on facebook! i dont think i'm exciting enough - or have enough time!

Missy
For all things fashion:
http://thefashionfusion.blogspot.com

Ash Fox said...

very cute. merry christmas!

Sierra said...

I would feel the same way, even though I am active more so on blogging than facebook, I would definitely miss it. I once deleted it when my ex and I broke up but after that created a new one and I've been hooked. I hope you hear from the facebook team soon...take care love!