AIBU to wonder how people manage without social media

[fabfiftyfox]

I wonder how some people get through their daily mundane lives without having to ask someones random stranger opinion or view on some daily, mundane part of their lives.
A lot of posts on here are genuine dilemmas and I understand why it would be easier to ask a random strangers advice on sensitive subjects rather than expose yourself to a friend of relative.
I understand the "Should I donate a kidney to save my budgies life?" kind of questions.
I don't understand the "Should I wear a green dress to a party?" kind of questions.
Are we so self obsessed that we think other people are genuinely interested in the nothingness of our lives.
Are we so lonely and friendless that we need the reassurance of random strangers to get through life.
Just having a rant really, so please nobody take this as a personal attack.
Maybe just having one of those "Seriously, with all the real problems going on in the world your main concern is blah,,,blah,,,blah..."
Ok, stepping away from the keyboard.....

[GettingFiggyWithIt]

I don't do facebook twitter whatsapp pinterest sms phones at all.
I do occasionally email.
I mumsnet way too much as ....
Diversion/distraction whilst bf usually
Reality check - not schadenfreudig but usually someone is worse off than me
Info when cannot find on google
I like the anonymity as in rl prople can be judgy
If i can help out ever i feel a bit more useful
If sthg makes me laugh out loud - like the poster being so sleep deprived she tried to bf the duvet as she thought it was crying - then it lifts me up
I like writing -even if it is bollocks-- and don't often get chance to
I am quite challenged atm so feel slightly less alone on here it doesn't matter that people don't know me, in my head you're all just friends i haben't met yet

[Alisvolatpropiis]

You realise that by starting this particular thread you are just as bad as the people you are criticising, surely?

[GettingFiggyWithIt]

Haven't. Excellent denglisch there.
I don't often seek reassurance but I do struggle atm so whilst i think spending all your time online is unhealthy, i like the fact that this forum makes me feel a bit less isolated. Yes i could pick up the phone but does anyone really want my whingeing there?

[Paintedpinksapphires]

Looking at FB I often think that some people are lonely and just want to reach out to someone even if it is a 'what shall I have for tea' type conversation.

Other people are needy and want attention but sometimes ask for it in a clumsy or ill judged way.

MN is a bit different though as it is the equivalent of a chat down the pub with friends for lots of people, not every conversation needs to be highly intellectual or worthy.

Sometimes it's annoying (I have a cousin that alternatively rants about her DH and DC and fills FB with posts about how 'blessed' she is) but mostly it's easy to ignore.

[MajorasMask]

My mum doesn't have the internet and hasn't for a few years now she's living on her own. She tried for a while but she said it was too expensive for something she doesn't really get much out of. She misses her allotment a lot more but the fees went up too much so now she grows veg in her garden. She's in her late 40s and I think the people at her work find it funny that she's so set about it whilst still quite young but she really isn't interested. I send her letters and we text or call, she has an old school Nokia PAYG phone and it's fine for her. Going back to visit with DP is kind of like travelling back in time (his job is all about tech and we're glued to the internet at home) but we have a great time with her talking and drinking into the evenings. My aunt set up a FB account for her but she was just annoyed that random people could see where she's gone to school etc. Thankfully no pictures but she's never used it. My aunt is too dependent on FB and really should get out more.

She stayed with us for Christmas a few years ago. We use an Xbox instead of regular TV for Netflix and on demand since it doesn't need a license, but she was baffled by the idea of watching YouTube as "TV" as we often do. I came down one morning to find her trying out iPlayer and she hated using the controller as a "remote". We have a laugh about it though! DP's family are very savvy and a similar age, they have Netflix just like us

[finnbarrcar]

I don't use any social media, I don't consider forums such as AIBU "social media" because I'm anonymous on it, which is just the way I like it.

Some people I know claim that FB is the only way they'd know what's going on in their DCs lives which I think is a bit sad and weird. Why not just talk to each other?

[MumSnotBU]

Majora's mum is in her late 40s....

I feel so so old...

I'm not Majora's mum btw

[MajorasMask]

I did say she's quite young MumSnot I'm 22, she's in better shape than me which is an embarrassment but she's also a former cross country running champion! She walks about 10km a day for work and she's the coolest mum so I hope that helps a bit.

[thatsucks]

There is a huge glaring irony regarding your OP, fabfiftyfox. I'll let you work it out...

[DuchessDisaster]

I use LinkedIn for contact with former work colleagues/bosses and WhatsApp to text the toyboy because he hasn't set up his iPhone to get iMessage. That's it. I have enough to do at work and at home without getting annoying "notifications". I do e-mail and have done since the early 1990s. I like being able to watch UK TV online via FilmOn.
I prefer to talk to real people, in person.