Say No To Vaguebooking!
You have friends who do it.
In fact, you’ve probably done it.
Heck, even as I write this blog, I realize I did it just a month ago.
Vaguebooking, as defined by Urban Dictionary is:
An intentionally vague Facebook status update, that prompts friends to ask what’s going on, or is possibly a cry for help.
I try very hard not to be a vaguebooker. Last month, I did post a vague, “I don’t understand why good things happen to bad people” after we found out sad news, but generally, I try to avoid the dramatic, cause-people-to-think-something-is-terribly-wrong, status updates. In fact, I try to avoid drama as much as possible.
Yesterday, I posted something that I realized soon after, sounded a lot like vaguebooking:
Came across this while reading today and it made me think: “There are two main reasons why people are rude: ignorance and selfishness.” Good little concept to keep in my back pocket.
I immediately had people messaging me asking if everything was okay, if something was wrong. I re-read the update and realized that it sounds a lot like I’m calling someone out on being rude to me… in an annoying, passive, vaguebooking way.
That actually couldn’t be more opposite than the truth.
You see, what I was reading about was how to make yourself more pleasant and enjoyable for your spouse to be around. It was all about becoming aware of the things that you might do that might be rude, uncomfortable, or irritating to your spouse, and using that knowledge to work on yourself. I know there are things I do that drive Clint bonkers. Because I do love him and want to be someone he loves being around, I want to make sure I’m not acting rudely.
So, basically, my status update was intended to call myself out. Like, “Hey, Lindsay, you see how you’re bugging people right now? Are you being selfish or ignorant?”
Sure, it’s good to have that in my pocket when I do run across those rude people, so instead of getting hot and bothered about it, I can think, “Dang, that’s a bummer. They’re being ignorant and/or selfish.” But mostly what it was about was me.
It stinks that Facebook has become a place where so many automatically assume certain status updates are about them, or some drama in the update-rs life, instead of being something positive. As someone who thrives on positivity and optimism, and is totally brought down by negativity, that bugs me. A lot.
Please don’t misunderstand me: I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to be caring and ask someone if they’re okay.
(Just wanted to make sure that was clear!)
Anyway, the moral of the story: Don’t Vaguebook. It’s annoying and begs for attention. If you don’t have something nice, funny, inspirational, or interesting to say, don’t say anything at all.
Most of all, if you have something that sucks in your life, like your BFF totally went behind your back and, ohmigawd she, like, epic kissed your ex-makeout buddy’s roommate who you thought you might want to go out with sometime… don’t facebook about it.
Get a blog and whine there, like me.
You get way more words to use, anyway.
*Wink*
Say no to vaguebooking. Just don’t do it.
Thank you.
