By Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr.When used correctly, social networks can be a very effective tool. They can help you meet people in your field, and advance your career. They can help you with promotion of things you want to get out to a broad audience. They can help you reconnect with people you lost contact with. There are many positives that can come from proper use of social networks.
There are a many negatives that can come from social networks too. One of the biggest is people taking the question asked in the Facebook status box too seriously. It asks you “What’s on your mind”?, and some people take that to heart. This backfires the most when it comes to relationships.
Many of us have that one friend that shares too much about their relationship. We will call this person “the serial relationship poster”. One status will say, “I love him/her so much, and don’t know what I can do without him/her”. Five hours it will say “I can’t stand him/her. I’m tired of their junk, and won’t put up with it anymore #focusingonmemyselfandI”. The following morning this friend wakes up happy, “in love” again, and this status cycle resumes. It is sad, and entertaining at the same time. Sports fans do this same thing while watching their favorite team play.
Sitting down to watch your favorite team can give you all of the experiences of a long-term relationship in a two to three hour span. There are highs and lows. One minute you are very happy with your team. Seconds later, you can not stand them, until they do something to get back in your good graces. It is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Many of which, fans tend to document on social networking.
The moment a touchdown is scored, you will see a fan post “Touchdown!! Our quarterback is on fire today”. Next time the offense gets the ball, and he throws an interception, the same fan will say, “Put that bum quarterback on the bench and bring in the backup. He’s terrible”. The following drive, the quarterback throws another touchdown, and the status cycle starts again. It will have the sports fan looking like the serial relationship poster in your timeline.
Full disclosure, there was a time that I would post during the games that one of my favorite teams was involved in. One day, I scrolled back through my statuses, and could not believe how much it resembled the serial relationship poster. From that day forward, I found other outlets to vent while watching games.
In closing, this article is a suggestion that both sports fans and serial relationship posters be more strategic with their social media usage. There is nothing wrong with sharing your feelings on social media. However, when you are in an emotional state, answering that question in the Facebook status box should be a last resort. Letting all the people on your friends list in on your emotional rollercoaster is not a good look for you. Whatever your way of letting those things go before the advent of social networking was, go back to that. You will feel better when you do, and your friends will have to find someone else in their newsfeed to entertain them.
I’m Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr., and I approve this message.
Feel free to leave Jimmy any feedback via e-mail at lemarwilson@gmail.com. You can see his weekly NFL picks at sportsinthefastlane.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @JimmyLWilsonJr, and Instagram @jwilsonjr42
This was printed in the October 6, 2013 – October 19, 2013 Edition
