Avoiding Facebook

While I can understand how some people can have a Facebook addiction, I've decided to start avoiding Facebook because it pretty much exists to anger me. In essence, some of the stupid things that people decide to post, such as links to news articles praising or condemning certain ideas or political figures, make me want to either immediately defriend them (seriously, I don't know if I can be friends with someone who publicly and proudly proclaims their love, admiration, and support for Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin) or curl up under my desk and cry.

Part of the problem stems from the fact that Facebook doesn't exactly encourage rational, reasonable, thoughtful discussions. Instead, what happens is closer to a flame war, where one person posts something and their virtual friends attack it (either supporting it or condemning it) like a pack of hungry piranhas. While I've gotten myself involved in some strongly worded exchanges, I have learned that, for the sake of my sanity and my blood pressure, it is best to ignore these things altogether.

The other problem that I have confronted on Facebook is that, by knowing about all of my virtual friends' thoughts, ideas, and political leanings, I've started to become very judgmental. When someone posts something (usually political in nature) that I find abhorrent, I can't help but question why I'm friends with this person in the first place, even though I know that, in real life, we:

1. Would never, ever talk about politics
2. Actually get along pretty well

As a result, I've decided that Facebook just isn't for me. I will continue to use it for work (because I have no other choice). Otherwise, I'm going to remain blissfully ignorant.