In a fit of pique regarding Facebook leaderships position that truth doesn’t matter, and it is ok to allow deception, division and incitement to violence on their platform, I posted that I could no longer “in good conscience” continue to use the platform. I would give it a day for friends to weigh in and then log out for good. A few responses caused me to reconsider the muck of the platform versus enjoyment of its more benign aspects - staying in touch with friends and family, enjoying various special interest groups, sharing points of view and posting the occasional photo.
Feeling some qualms, I added another post, and without my knowledge or consent, an ad was clipped on to that post. Sadly, we are all “marks” on this platform - our very essence passed around to sell us stuff.
So what to do? Do I hold my nose and continue so that I can share the happier aspects of life with friends and family? Stroke my fragile ego as folks “like” and comment on my photos and blog posts? Do I actually counterbalance the viciousness of other voices on the platform by staying on and sharing what I believe are truthful and informative posts? Perhaps I do, but we are all grouped and sold based on virtual history and preferences, so we are for the most part preaching to our own choir’s.
At this point, I honestly do not know the answer . The platforms suck out our inherent humanity as they incite and sell us. On the other hand they connect billions of us together, a virtual “Indra’s Net” in Buddhist terms. Not at all black and white, as nothing really is. Withdraw and feel a warm glow of conscience or use it positively and mindfully?
Perhaps, we just let it go on occasion, and take the time to call some friends instead. Nothing to buy and nothing to sell..