As we enter the sixth month of living history here, it’s hard to avoid all the elephants in the room although I do give it my best shot.
I find myself watching less news, avoiding anyone who wants to talk politics, and refusing to get involved in a ‘heavy’ conversation – my mental status can’t take it. 🙂
Do I care about the never ending list of issues affecting our country? Of course. Am I registered to vote? Yes, and I’ve requested an absentee ballot to stay away from the crowds.
My question today is whether or not the current situation has affected your social media usage.
I’m not what you’d call a ‘big’ social media user.
Recently, I decided to delete my Twitter account. A couple of clicks and poof I was done with that.
I use Facebook solely to stay in touch with friends or family who use it otherwise I’d delete it in as they say in a New York minute.
Instagram I like. It’s simple and mostly positive. A photo, a short comment, and we’re good.
YouTube to me is where I go when I want to find out how to do something related to DIY, and Podcasts are what I listen to if I can’t read.
According to the net, there are 75+ social media sites we need to be aware of in 2020.
I couldn’t care less. I still prefer interacting with people and want to spend less time online not more.
How about you, more or less time online? What’s your favorite social media site?
Happy first Monday in August, and I’ll be back on Thursday with a door. Who knew I could come up with another door?
This morning it’s off to the computer store for some advice because I have issues. When the battery is dropping so fast you can watch it, and it is running so hot you can’t rest your hands, technical help is needed.
The humidity is already 82% so I’m thinking the rest of the day I’ll be inside. Isolation and wicked hot and humid weather aren’t a good combination, but it is what it is. 😎
I’m pretty happy with my life, populated with family, but also worn down by the world outside my home: the nasty politics, virus worry, inability to compromise across the congressional aisle…..Have stopped looking at cable news all day and just skim past it on Facebook. Bright spots for me online are your blog and one other I follow, plus what my daughters post with the kids on Facebook. That’s enough
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I’m so glad you stop in and chat. 🙂 I can imagine your girls keep you busy with shots of those handsome grandkids. I hope they are all doing well and are successful in the coming school year whether that is in an actual building or at home, and I never have to wonder who they might consult when it comes to art projects. 🙂
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Agreed on limiting “news” or I would go crazy. FB for friends and no arguing. YouTube for music – choral, baroque, Bach cantatas, Vosces8, Sacred Harp… Too hot and humid to linger or work outside, but abundant blooms to enjoy – and cut almost daily so Marian gets to enjoy them indoors. Still no visiting or gathering. A long isolation, and a little stir crazy at times. A low level depression all around. Stopped expecting things to get better any time soon. Expecting school/college issues to overwhelm us after Labor Day. Indeed “it is what it is” but I need to face it with a more positive attitude. “Lord, have mercy!”
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Music on YouTube – I haven’t tried that, so thank you. Yes, to cutting blooms for Marian to enjoy ‘inside.’ Hideously hot and humid out there today. I’m also glad to know I’m not alone when it comes to getting a little stir crazy at times from all this isolation. As you can imagine, Durham is going through all kinds of issues with the students starting to roll back into town. They’re meeting tonight to decide on requiring mandatory wearing of face coverings. I must admit I’m glad I’m one town away and will keep my distance. Stay well. 🙂
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Following blogs is as ‘social’ as I get! I text, email, take/save photos. I much prefer to interact with people, but that’s difficult right now.
Hope the computer gurus can restore your equipment back to health.
Oppressively hot and humid again today, tomorrow will be a day of rain. Maybe for entertainment I’ll try to count the raindrops as they hit the window pane!! 🤗
🐾Ginger 🐾
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They’ve ordered parts so now I wait and keep plugging it back in to recharge. Oh well, could always be worse. 🙂 Yes, tomorrow for ‘fun’ we can count raindrops. That’s probably about as exciting as it will get anyway. 🙂
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I am primarily involved with Twitter and Facebook, but both on a narrow basis. I tweet/retweet stuff that strikes me as funny or interesting, but I try to avoid any hint of politics or current events. It’s not that I don’t care, but I don’t see how my participation will help. On Facebook, I mainly keep up with friends. I avoid the traps some of them put out there. I joined Instagram, but I’ve yet to post a photo. I look at others and like them, but I’m not sure if I have the time to get more involved. 75 places we need to be aware of? That’s crazy.
Stay cool. Stay safe and stay sane 🙂
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That would make a great T-shirt – “Stay cool. Stay safe and stay sane.” 🙂 You nailed it with avoiding the traps and not seeing how my participation will help. That is exactly how I feel. Next time you see the Instagram logo, you should at least load one photo of Maddie on her cot. 🙂
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Maybe I will do that.
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Judy, I agree with you about Social Media. Does blogging count? Other than this blog, I only use FB and Instagram and YouTube occasionally. I would ditch FB if it wasn’t the best way to keep up with friends and family. Sometimes it’s the only way I find out someone I know has passed away. I rarely watch the news, and when a hurricane is coming I never look at the Weather Channel. It’s the National Hurricane Center website and one other blog that give me the best information to know whether to evacuate or stay put. Can you tell Isaias is on my mind today?
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I suppose blogging falls under Social Media, but I consider it a separate entity. 🙂 Isn’t that funny when you think about how we find out someone has passed now – it’s posted on FB. I can imagine you have it all figured out where to find the best weather info, and I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that this latest one that I can’t pronounce skips right around you but does leave some nice moisture in the non threatening form.
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We’re getting some much needed rain from it right now. It’s passing us by offshore.
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It certainly is what it is. Because of the humidity, couldn’t bring myself to peddle on the road to nowhere this morning. I’m pretty much where you are with social media, except I’ve never used Instagram. Perhaps someday. I do love podcasts, mainly from NPR but also from a few other places. Always listen when I’m doing chores, inside and out. Tuck my phone in my pocket, put in the earbuds, and off I go to other places and other stories. Sure broadens the horizons of this homebody.
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Thank you for the chuckle because I love that reference ‘on the road to nowhere’ because I’ll probably end up walking on the treadmill today because of the heat. I was getting into gardening podcasts but I’ve tapered off. I have tinnitus, and when I’m outside there is enough noise from nature that I don’t notice it. I think I enjoy that break so much I don’t want to plug into music or talking. There is so much available right now on so many different avenues, it really could boggle your mind. Hope you aren’t as hot and humid as we are today.
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the humidity is terrible here in Maine. No surprise, really. And listening to the sounds of nature is a lovely thing to do.
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I just have Instagram, and Twitter, but I rarely post on Twitter anymore, and I too limit my news intake to channels and sites that cover all the sides then I make up my own mind. I deleted my FB account many years ago and haven’t missed it.
I hope your computer issue is an easy one to fix, and you have a fun project to keep you busy while inside today.
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It’s interesting how different options work for each of us. I hadn’t used Twitter in ages so just deleted it and didn’t think one second about it. I ordered a new battery, three new keys, and he vacuumed it for me which seems to have helped with the overheating. This laptop was never meant to last this long, but as long as I can keep getting it fixed it’s good to go. 🙂
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My blog and FB usage is down though I have been catching up on others’ blog posts without commenting. Why? Couldn’t remember my password till now and WP wouldn’t allow me to comment from my mobile without it. Sounds crazy, right? Glad you are doing well. It’s been a hot and humid summer here too.
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Sometimes all you can do is shake your head and laugh. You’d think they could tell who you were and help you out, but I’m sure there’s a rule in a book somewhere. 🙂 It seems like it’s hot and humid in a lot of places this summer. Glad you are well also. Hope your books are doing well too. 🙂
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Hi Judy, not a news junkie, but, like you, I care and do my best to get information from credible news sources, never had a Twitter account, limited viewing on FB, love Instagram, and reading entertaining blogs. I watch YouTube videos (music & instructional) and I listen to PodCasts occasionally. I wish people would remember that we are better than what we are told to believe about ourselves. It is good to unplug once in a while and just BE.
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Ooh, I like your last two sentences. Thank you for that pick me up. 🙂
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We’ve not really watched the news either. And I go one further, I don’t (or stay away from for the most part) blog posts that are about current news events. It gets too depressing.
Other than my blog I really don’t have a huge social media presence. I keep a face book page, basically it is connect with my blog. I do also have a pinterest page. For pugs and to connect with my blog. Neither my FB or Pinterest has a lot of viewers. My blog is just too fun.
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You have to find a good balance, and it sounds like you have. Your blog with your first-rate photos is quite a commitment, and I can imagine you get all the online satisfaction you want or need right there in one place. 🙂
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I realize much of social media is a waste of time, I still enjoy it. I limit myself to it. I haven’t had Face account for years as I was hacked Found al my password and there. My twitter account was started when I was reviewing books the was able to find my passwords. It has been almost a week of triple digits days. I spend more of my time on WordPress.
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Social media has its place and provides positive ways for family and friends to stay in touch. I just don’t want to spend more time with those that want to engage in arguments and negativity about a variety of current events. I prefer WordPress myself. 🙂
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I do agree with your sentiment very much, and politics today seems like the first circle of Hell, but this is a dangerous time to be complacent when our public policy is in the hands of banks and corporations set to make mind boggling amounts of money from health policies informed by eugenicists. Nobody is in a position to be able to understand all complexities of modern life, so we have to proxy our sense making to people we trust. Do you trust the media with their if-it-bleeds-it-leads business model? Do you trust the politicians to make hard decisions that aren’t predicated on their re-election chances? After watching our brave military being misused to overthrow any regime that won’t fall in line with the petro-dollar and causing deaths in the millions, destruction of infrastructure and social disruption with wars concocted on lies, and after watching the media and political classes condone the continuing the 50+ year wealth redistribution upwards, I refuse to disengage and therefore I have to visit social media to find new sources that I must assess and rely on to make sense of the world. But I love your doors!
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You make some very valid points, and I agree with several of them. I guess my point is that we are deluged with information and sometimes I just want a little less noise. Do I look up issues from several sources if I do not fully understand, of course I do. But, there are days or topics when I feel like I just don’t want to hear or read one more word about it. Kind of like the notice to wash my hands – I got it, I do it, I won’t forget. 🙂
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Thank you. I’m sorry for crashing your party!
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Stop back anytime, there’s always room for another visitor. Stay well.
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I hear ya! I’ve slowed my social media engagement, and when I do engage, I try to keep it simple. These are challenging times and I find myself quite often at a loss for words. Pretty pictures are where it’s at for me these days 😊
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Oh, I am so with you – positive comments and pretty pictures. 🙂 You’ve had a fun and productive summer at the lake. Besides being with family, which is always a plus, you certainly avoided some heavy heat at home. Hope you get all your RV projects completed, have a great rest of the summer, and safe travels when you head home. Keep that camera clicking. 🙂
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I have also curtailed my news consumption. I am registered to vote and will happily cast my (mail-in) ballot as soon as I can. I’ve culled my FB “friends” so that I don’t have to see crazy stuff. Instagram, like with you, is my happy place for pictures. I don’t tweet but I sometimes enjoy compilations of funny twitter threads (usually made in response to nuts-o tweets).
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Sounds like a good plan to me, and it’s one where you’re in charge of input and output. 🙂 I just found you on Instagram so I can enjoy your photos. 🙂
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This morning I took a package of pork chops out of the freezer and put it down next to the sink, saying — out loud — “Wait there.” THAT’s how this situation has affected me! I’ve never been on FB or Twitter or any of those. I just talk to pork chops.
I sure hope your computer is easily fixed. With all the elephants in the room, you are the one entitled to the melt-down, not the computer! I’m so glad to hear there’s another door coming!
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Oh, I do thank you for that hearty pork chuckle, and don’t think you’re alone because I’m guessing every one of us who has been isolating for the past five months is right there with you. 🙂 The computer guru had to open the back of the computer, and you wouldn’t believe the dust he vacuumed out. That alone took care of the heating problem. I own a small vacuum intended for keyboards so I think maybe I should use it more often. Battery and three new keys on order. This is a tiny home-town computer repair store, and the owner is trying to sell it. If it goes out of business, I’ll be relegated to purchase, throw away, purchase new. I’m so not looking forward to that.
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I’m afraid you’re right that I’m not the only one in this delirium. As for your computer, I can only shake my head, The whole art of repairing is going extinct, I fear, but I don’t understand why, given the growing concern for the environment. We are a weird species.
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You know when you go through a fast food drive through and there is a trash can before you exit the lane? That’s where we’re at – we buy something, toss the previous item, and repeat.
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My social media usage has stayed mostly the same. Facebook keeps me in touch with all of those people that I can’t go to visit these days. I have never been on Twitter and from what I see of certain tweets, I believe I will continue to stay away. I do watch the nightly news but have admit that the news of tragedies is depressing, day after day. I’m blogging about our gardens pretty much as I have in the past. And yes, I will be voting this fall as I have done for 50 years.
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Facebook certainly allows us to check in with folks we care about all across the world. As big and beautiful as your gardens are, I’m surprised you even find time to check in, but I’d guess with these heat waves you’ve found yourself inside a little more. Hope the gardens keep looking lush and providing comfort. I always look forward to your posts. Hope we get some rain tonight but no damage or loss of power. 🙂
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I am in total alignment with you here, Judy. Lucky for me, my life is not much changed from ‘before’. Rural living in and of itself is more isolated, and my work for garden clients is outside. Happily, my spouse has taken over most of the shopping, so in that respect, my life is better! 😉
WP is pretty much it for social media, and that keeps me plenty busy. Like you, FB is something I keep but rarely check because it is pretty inflamed these days. I try to reduce my stress levels on all fronts in order to stay as sane as possible!
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I think you summed it up – “reducing stress to stay as sane as possible.” 🙂 We’re somewhat rural and never lived an exciting life, but I do miss being able to go to a store whenever I want. It’s not that I was ever what you’d call a shopper, but I would go to the store when I needed something. Now, I make lists for different stores and until I have several items, I avoid it or end up ordering on line. Oh well, not much we can do about it when we are classified as being in the ‘vulnerable age group.’ Happy gardening Eliza. I’m out before the rain to pull some weeds and divide a couple of daylilies before I forget which ones they are. 🙂
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No, no! Delete Facebook not Twitter. Twitter makes me laugh more than anywhere else online. Many good people there. HOWEVER I take your point that we all have to avoid the negativity IF we’re to survive this pandemic with our sanity intact. Kind of a big IF at this point…
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I admit I never really got into Twitter because my friends were all on FB so it was easy to pull the plug. I do wonder if we’ve gone past maintaining our sanity, and we just don’t know it because we’re all in the same boat after all this isolation. 🙂 Hope you are well and enjoying your break, but know you are missed.
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Judy, I agree about Instagram. It’s a more positive place to be than Facebook and Twitter. That being said, I am connected to the latter two and sometimes wonder why. Recently, I’ve had to unfollow a couple of friends on FB because of the constant negativity in their feed, but Twitter has connected me with a few intelligent and ethical/moral people that I enjoy following. I guess what I’m saying is that I have the ability to pick and choose who and what I follow and read and try to do my best to fall into some dark social media hole. Like you, I keep Facebook to stay in touch with people that I care about and that’s what’s most important to me.
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I meant to NOT fall into the dark media hole. 🙂
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Takeaway is to be in control, and you are – mission accomplished. 🙂 I tried to find you on Instagram, but wasn’t successful. Give me a hint – handle or name.
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Look for giesemary on Instagram
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Interesting to read all the comments on social media. I follow wildlife and photography groups on FB & enjoy photos from around the world on Instagram. I listen to podcasts while I’m cooking and we have substituted evening news for streaming relaxing music while we eat. I really enjoy the blogs I follow. I’m in full agreement with the comment ….Stay cool, safe and sane!
Thanks for the post Judy..😊😁👌
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Oh, I do like your idea of relaxing music versus evening news. That is a great plan. 🙂 I LOVE the blogging community and can’t imagine having survived this isolation without it. Your beautiful country is doing so well with this issue that I stand and applaud. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Thank you on behalf of Australia, but unfortunately we have had a new outbreak in Victoria, and now are back in Lockdown.
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I just looked up the outbreak. You guys make tough rules, follow them, and see results. I wish we could say the same. Stay well.
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I feel like I’m living in a foreign country. This isn’t anything like home. I also think that the horrors we are facing now are at least in part because we didn’t pay attention to what has been happening for most of our lives. This mess didn’t start in 2016, though it certainly got a lot worse. No, we’ve allowed the continued corruption of our government — of both parties — to continue. NAFTA was the worse trade deal ever made and I thought so at the time, even though I liked Clinton, I STILL thought it was a horrible idea and I was sure that sooner or later, we’d pay a big price for it.
I think we all contributed to this disaster in which we are living. And I am ashamed.
As for social media, I try to find things to be happy about, but I’m bummed. I also can’t write about feeling bummed all the time. It just makes me feel worse. So I write something about it intermittently and I reblog other people’s work. We can’t stay angry and miserable all the time or at least I can’t. Even if it’s just how beautiful the birds are on the feeders and how cute the little chipmunks are.
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It is a challenge some days to find positive things, but as you said being angry or miserable is not a good option. Each day is a gift, and it is good to find something positive like that beautiful bird at the feeder. Stay well, and I think of you every time I glance at my fuschia hanging basket. 🙂
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I definitely prefer Instagram to Facebook and, like you, only keep my account active to keep in touch with family and friends. I hope things begin to improve where you are soon.
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I like Instagram too. I’m fortunate to live in the New England area, but there are sure some states I’m glad I’m not even near. The college kids will start to arrive in a neighboring town. I’m guessing that will bring a whole new mix to the numbers, and I can’t say I’m looking forward to it.
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It’s a worry. Here the highest number of infections are in the 20 to 29 year olds.
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We have a college town right down the road from us, and I may have to switch grocery stores while school is in session. They are trying to make it mandatory for them to wear masks, but I’m not feeling real comfortable with them partying and shopping at the same store.
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I concur! Keep me away from a conversation over politics. Keep me away from Facebook… I only go on to see what my family is doing. And guess what, they have also slowed down on Facebook! We send pictures to each other now.
Instagram for me is quite fun and I have actually met some people here in town because of it. One gal has become a good friend over the two years since meeting.
You Tube is mostly for cooking shows but I love the Create channel on cable!
We’ve kept busy with house projects and the latest is a new kitchen floor! It will be finished today!
Now if the rain could just estoppel for a bit.
Looking forward to Thursday and you door! But until then… Happy Tuesday!
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What in the world is “estoppel?” I sure hope the world knows I meant “”stop!”
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Hope you get to enjoy the kitchen floor process and admire it for years to come. That’s one thing about ‘staying home’ and keeping busy – lots of projects are getting done. 🙂 We were without power during the storm for 9.5 hours, not that I was counting, but this morning it is bright, sunny, and no winds. Time to go pick up downed branches and put things back in order that were thrown around. Happy Wednesday!
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Well, since I haven’t posted anything since April, I guess I would say my use of blogging is just about non-existent. Nor do I go online to read blog posts very often anymore. I do post the occasional photo on IG. It just feels like a calmer, quieter place these days.
I’ve pretty well insulated myself from the world the past few months and I don’t know when I’ll feel like poking my head out of my turtle shell again. For a while I was holding out a brave hope that the world would become a better place for having so much change thrust upon it because of the pandemic. It seems it was a foolish expectation. The mean, stupid, and unkind were just catching their breath 😦
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When this started, I truly thought there’d be a beginning (March), a middle (fall), and an end (vaccine). It seems now like an ongoing process with no end in sight this year or next. It’s pretty damn depressing. I was reading some events sponsored by a local group, and they have already cancelled their 2021 activity and postponed it to 2023. I looked at it, laughed out loud, and thought we’re too old to be postponing things three years down the road. 🙂 Instagram is kinder and gentler, and I’m glad you still pop up there. You’re missed. 🙂
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Awww – thanks 🙂
I’m taking a very long view on this one. I think the world as we knew it is gone and this is our new life now. I don’t think this is like a polio or smallpox that can be virtually irradiated by a vaccine. Maybe I’m just being terribly pessimistic … I hope I am … but I’m mentally preparing for the long run.
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I check the news once a day from several reliable wire service sources that still practice traditional journalism. I do want to stay updated on what’s happening in the world, but without being inundated with talking points, rhetoric, propaganda, and worst of all: “experts” who’ll tell me what to think about it all.
I quit FB a few years ago and don’t miss it. I gave up on Instagram, and after a two-month complete break I’ve come back to Twitter for the people who make me laugh. As long as I avoid giving in to curiosity and clicking on trending hashtags, which always ends up being a dumpster fire, Twitter can be good for a few daily chuckles.
Along with the blog and YouTube for the same reasons as you, that’s more than enough social media for me. Stay safe and sane and see you on Thursday 😉
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You have made choices that work for you instead of letting them tell you what to do – Amen. A lot of the ‘news’ today is nothing more than people gathering together to arm chair quarterback, and that I avoid totally. Enjoy those Twitter chuckles, and I’ll see you Thursday.
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I ended up deleting my Facebook account two years ago because of politics. I am no doubt missing pictures of friends and relatives, and their various doings, but honestly it’s been a weight lifted from me. I don’t miss it. I do have an Instagram account, which I seldom use; and I have a Twitter account for mostly to see what various famous people (journalists mostly) are saying. For me, it was pretty much Facebook that figuratively sucked the air out of the room for me. I read the news from those much maligned mainstream media sources, and that still works fine for me. – Marty
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Isn’t it interesting how we all find balance in our life by deleting things that annoy us and keeping those that we find interesting. Everyone has a unique inventory of what works. I love it. Stay well. 🙂
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I blog and email…love Youtube…mostly for quilting stuff. But also to find out how to do other things and also for fun moments. Just within the past couple of months I discovered the show Young Sheldon and I looked up a clip to show a friend…now I also have those pop up. And Jeanne Robertson (her old stuff for laughter) and Ken Davis for fun…I have FB, but seldom post a pic or anything about myself…except I belong to a quilting group there. Otherwise I would be tempted to completely quit it. But then no, I keep in touch with a childhood friend on there and also watch one of my daughter’s friend’s child grow up.
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You’re busy, busy and busy, Rose. 🙂 Glad you found your happy places amongst so many out there.
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Politics? BAh! I always end up the referee when there’s a gathering. The art of diversion is becoming my forte’. lol
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🙂
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My answer is a great big YES. I’m turning away from social media to a great extent. I used to be fairly engaged on FB, but now I find I rarely connect there. For a while I tried to be present on IG with some consistency, now I am pretty much surrendering the effort. I do get most of my news online on certain sites. I check the news several times a day. I’m trying to cut back but it’s a hard habit to break. Planning to request my online ballot this week, though.
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I can’t imagine living without the technology of today, but it is always better when we drive the bus instead of it driving us. Sounds like you have a firm hand on it. 🙂
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YES. Like you, I would rather not exhaust myself with conflict. After years of not being active on Twitter, I returned when I got sick in March. Haven’t been on FB since, although, I tended to go months without prior to that time. I’ve been sporadic on Instagram. And I believe you know how well I’m keeping up with blogland. News, daily, very little, and would rather read it than hear it.
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I would rather read than listen as well. I’m guessing listening to conflict makes too much noise in both our heads. 🙂
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