Janus Revisited: The Two Sides of Facebook

Facebook has fantastic attributes allowing friends and family to keep in touch. Many Facebook entries are as lovely as springtime blossoms: endearing memories; raindrops on roses; love and laughter; poems and prayers; care and concern; kittens and puppies; horses and rodeos; babies and children; mothers and fathers. 

...but there are some downsides too. My son-in-law, Greg Whitus, wrote this to his Facebook friends:

Well my friends, it's time to leave Facebook. Over the last 2-years, Facebook has become a platform for some of the most vile, hateful stuff that I've ever seen. People can share the most hateful and despicable stuff without having to look in the eyes of the person they are attacking or offending. In short, compassion and empathy has been replaced by confrontation and hatred. I've seen friends attack friends and family members attack family members. Relationships have been destroyed or are in the process of being destroyed. We've lost the ability to reason, discuss and debate our ideas and differences of opinion. We retreat into our echo chambers where we are being fed material that matches our thoughts while we ignore opinions different from ours. We view those whose opinions differ from ours as enemies who must be defeated. Our prejudicial words fan the flames of hatred and anger--consequences be damned. I choose to no longer be a part of it.

How do we know if Facebook is an enemy to our souls? Here are a few ideas:

1.   If Facebook entries cause us to get angry.

2.   If entries produce envy or jealousy.

3.   If our personal entries cause us to feel superior to others.

4.   If entries make us competitive.

5.   If we become depressed, despondent or melancholy after visiting Facebook.

6.   If we feel inferior to others when viewing Facebook. 

7.   If we feel lonely when viewing Facebook entries.