Why I'm (Thinking of) Leaving Facebook

I declared loud and proud about a month ago that I'm deactivating my Facebook account on May 1st. Didn't say why, just said when.

May 1st has come and gone and it's still not deactivated.

I originally entitled this blog entry, "Why I'm Leaving Facebook", with the intention of posting the link in my status on my account page prior to May 1st. I'm obviously way off schedule (because that's Just Jackie!).

BUT, that said, I still have my reasons....

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In July, 2015, I moved out of my house, out of my marriage. I was (and still am) fearful for my life, so I left. My ex-husband ("whilom" - lowercase dubya) will never, ever get over it. He will forever have anger toward me. I will be be blamed for all the bad things in life, forever. And if there isn't bad there, he will find a way to make it bad and blame me. This is NOT "victim mentality". It's reality. When I left, I was prepared to be the "bad guy", but I was not prepared for narcissistic wrath (it's a real psychological thing!).

whilom, although blocked by me, managed to infiltrate my Facebook account (and a locked Twitter account, in addition to downloading this entire blog) in order to denigrate, decimate,  impugn, vilify, slander, besmirch and downright destroy me as a parent, a woman, a person. 

I cannot, and will not, tell you what effect his infantile behavior has had on me, and it started with -- yep, you guessed it: Facebook.

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Thennnn -- the U.S. Presidential election happened. I'm in shock at the vitriol and wickedness people post; literal mouth-dropped-open dismay. Yeah, yeah, yeah -- free speech, First Amendment and all that jazz, but goodness! I had no idea some people allow politics to define the parameters of their relationships! And guess what that means? It means that I don't want to see that malice!

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Thennnnn the whole privacy stuff that Zuck sold. It's so complicated, so intricate. I know a few things about this issue, watched the congressional hearings, did some reading, and it just doesn't sit well with me.

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The couple of weeks I've "taken off" from the Book of Faces has been interesting. I'm so flattered by the sentiments of acquaintances, friends, family, who've messaged, texted or posted on my page that they will miss me. 

People have reminded or tried to teach me how I can block and hide content (which I knew but that's a huge time investment! Worth the time? Probably.......).

I see Zuck and his "hot-or-not" website that is now an out-of-control international recruitment and political machine is attempting to reign in the out-of-control; might be too little too late for me (and I'm well aware we're all selling our soul to the AI devil with all the permissions we exchange for convenience), but I'm keeping an eye on the changes.

Presidents will come and go. Issues will always have controversy. Digesting various perspectives is so healthy and necessary, but not at the expense of my mental and emotional health. If you've established a pattern of being a disrespectful ass about your opinions, I'm going to distance from you. I don't watch the news; I damn sure don't want to see people that I know go off on each other or spew hate at me.

If I stay, it's because of the choice to look at the good in folks. 

If I stay, it's because I HAVE experienced that sense of "community" (*praising applause to Zuck*), which is very hard to replace (*shaking a fist at Zuck*).  I've even started communities on that thing! So, being sentimental, that's kind of hard to just quit cold turkey.

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What I *am* TRYING to live in is Hope. TRYING to live in Mercy. TRYING to separate the behavior from the person I know/knew. TRYING to live authentically to a set of values that are still forming, still being nurtured, still being reinforced. 

I don't want to not like you because you and I disagree politically.

I don't want to not like you because we aren't on the same spiritual and religious planes.

I appreciate being passionate about a law, a faith, a political party, a style of parenting, a manner of dress, a lifestyle, a reaction to an experience, etc.

I do NOT appreciate being judged and categorized. 

I do NOT appreciate being disrespected.

I will continue to learn.

I will continue to seek.

I will continue to contextualize.

I am determined to NOT let fear rule my heart anymore. I've missed so much life because of being afraid.

I am determined to speak up respectfully if I sense your fear is interfering with our relationship.

I will be honest, and with every bit of might I have, try to be compassionately so.

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(It's a damn tricky tightrope walk of learning self-love, self-respect, self-awareness without falling into the pit of being a doormat again.)

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People change. They SHOULD change. 

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I dunno, man. I dunno what I'm gonna do 'bout the ol' FB....and I guess if whilom decides he needs to legally pursue some b-s accusation based on what I've written, well, I'll keep in line with who I am, throw up that peace sign then come out shinier when the dust settles.

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Live in love, not fear.

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