What Facebook tells me

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As a latecomer to the Facebook community, I started out thinking that Facebook would simply be the Internet billboard of today announcing events, trips, thoughts and a million different likes mainly on a social perspective. In the beginning, I refrained from posting anything and stayed content as an observer and wondered how much of the stuff that got posted would be good or bad for us.

Initially I appreciated the reconnection “in silence” with friends whom I have not heard from or seen in years. It was nice to know that they were around, that they were well and going about their daily lives like before. I was warned that “ex’s” could blast from the past and cause domestic issues. Fortunately, I’m at that age that anything of the sort is more of wishful thinking. Then I began to notice how so many people seemed to post so many pictures about food. I wondered if they were showing off what they were about to consume or has today’s generation come up with a new “hobby” of turning fine dining into fine art? Not daring to ask a stupid question, I simply watched. We’ll know in ten years if all that contributed to the national average of Filipino waistlines.

Then I noticed how many posts started to look and sound like people showing off their latest achievement, their next destination, their latest purchase or their most recent invitation to an event or to be a guest of honor. More than “sourgraping” I was concerned how all the “material or professional” rejoicing could seriously affect people who were unemployed, brokenhearted, discouraged or let down at home or at work. It’s great to rejoice with a close set of friends or family, but this being Facebook, there is also the possibility that an officemate, neighbor or an acquaintance who lucked out or lost out to you could be reading your very public post with homicidal envy! I actually advised a friend to tone it down because he already sounded like he was bragging more than rejoicing. For some, their posts sound like an invitation to be robbed or kidnapped.

 As an old school person I really could not stand it so I asked several individuals if this was accepted bragging or was I missing something? I learned that it was in the nature of Facebook “to announce things” since it was a social network so the public declarations is to be expected. I realize that given the limited opportunities to promote one’s career and one’s business, people have taken the “bold” if not audacious step of using Facebook as their premier window for promotion. At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice if you want to tell the whole world. By and large it boils down to culture and what is fine for one may not be cool for another.

From those posts, I began to notice how people talked about parties and events they were invited to by friends or companies. I figured that this was one sure way of knowing which parties and events I was or was not invited to. If I noticed this, then surely a whole bunch of other people who were not invited must have realized the same thing. I wonder, do the companies and their PR people even realize the apparent exclusions or snubs they commit on a regular basis? Do they even realize the long-term damage it does to their public and media relations?

Then I realized that some companies don’t really care if it’s so obvious that they practice favoritism concerning whom they invite to events, whom they lend products to or whose company they blatantly prefer. Then I noticed how some people who are “friends” of those companies blatantly post and brag about their special status and the products or loaners they have for the weekend or the month. It got so annoying that I found myself commenting that people should refrain from giving the “impression” of ownership because it looks really tacky and in poor taste. To their credit, a number of friends have taken the advice and I compliment them for it.

It did not take long before someone summed it all up by saying: “Facebook: Where people give you the impression that they live a better life than you do, even if they don’t.”

In the last year, I’ve noticed how Facebook has begun to manifest a distinctly political feature no thanks to the issues involving Senator Tito Sotto, Manny Pangilinan versus Ateneo, Obama versus Romney, China versus the World, the RH bill, the FOI bill and now the Sin Tax bill. Not only has the Pinoy Facebook Community injected politics into their posts, they have even used it as a social stick or paddle for discipline by collectively exposing, rebuking and “bullying” real life bullies, screamers, politicians etc.

Recently, my Facebook community has shown a side that I have never seen collectively manifested before. I have seen from their posts how the Filipino Facebook member has become more mature, sensitive and sensible. After witnessing the fall of Manny Pacquiao, the majority of Facebook Pinoys exhibited continuing appreciation, compassion and intelligent appreciation for what Manny Pacquiao has achieved in his career, what he has contributed to the nation in terms of pride, and the example he has set as a man who achieved “the impossible.”

Rather than dwell on what was, or might have been, rather than conduct themselves as false experts on boxing and conditioning, rather than allow themselves to be swept by the self centered and the narrow minded commentaries about boxing and religion, the Filipinos on Facebook expressed concern for Manny’s health and well-being. They expressed continuing support, they told of how they went out and still bought a Manny Pacquiao shirt. They said that in victory and in defeat, Manny was still their champion. This was no longer Manny Pacquiao adulation; this was a people giving back part of the pride that Manny gave them. This was a people showing they have learned to appreciate who and what they have and no longer dwelling on losses and “sayang.”

This week, I have seen a new generation of Filipinos on Facebook and I am honored to be in their community.

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