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I...I...just need some space, okay? Or, it's not you, facebook, it's me


I took a decision on Friday which may well have some profound implications (tonue on half in cheek as I type). I chose to take a step back, draw a deep breath and...not go on facebook.

I know, I know, I have effectively cut myself off from the wellspring of the digital age. I have also severed the only half-arsed connection I have with the vast majority of people in my life. It’s not a permanent thing, it’s just that me and facebook, well, we just need some space, okay?

Well, to be more precise it’s more that I dimly realised that the time I was supposed to be spending writing was being spent aimlessly clicking through links which started off interesting, but quickly became black holes of nonsense.

This is not the fault of my various facebook friends. I’m too old to have random ‘friends’ to whom I have no connection. There are either actual friends, family or connected in some way to one of my interests. As a result when I see news stories or links posted up, there’s often interesting stuff there. It’s often worth a look, but when you find yourself reading the story, and then clicking on one of the other boxes at the bottom, you know the ones, the x did this, you won’t believe what happened, the ten most interesting x’s, fifty places to holiday with your tortoise, that sort of thing, then it’s time to step away.

Not just the inconsequential stuff, either. As I said, all the people in my timeline are in some sense relevant to m. I’m interested in what they’re doing. When you’re spending more time reading about what other people are doing than actually doing things yourself, then yes, another reason to step back for a bit.

So in an effort to finally get some sodding work done, I’m taking an indefinite break from fb. Not so far as the ultimate step of account deletion, I still have to administer the business account, and I’d like to get back on there someday. It’s full of interesting people, after all. But for the sake of my sanity, and sense of purpose, I switched the “use as” to the business account, and there it will stay, for a few weeks at least. Who knows, should I ever gain the ability to just stop looking after ten minutes, I may allow myself back on. But first, there’s stuff to do. I imagine it’s not a coincidence that this is the first blog post I’ve managed in since forever, so there’s a leap in productivity, right there.

Plus, I was getting a bit bored of being invited to play Candy Crush Saga.

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