To avoid using Facebook?

[sewingandcakes]

I've been staying away from it for a couple of months now, as every time I sign in I end up depressed/angry/envious about things other people have posted.

Yet family members keep telling me about photos they've posted and seem surprised that I don't spend every waking hour more time there.

AIBU to lurk on Mumsnet instead?

[Elquota]

YANBU. If people want to share photos they can put them on PictureTrail or email them to you.

[sewingandcakes]

I have no problems with people who like Facebook, I can see how it is a valuable part of their lives, and how it's a good way of communicating and sharing. But for me personally, struggling with PND, I see everyone else enjoying and living their lives, and it highlights for me how cut off and detached I feel from them, and then makes me more unhappy.

Thanks for all your views everyone, I think I'll continue to stay away from Facebook until I feel more able to contribute and share in their lives.

[mercury7]

Sewing I see everyone else enjoying and living their lives
really? cmon.

Surely people use facebook to present themselves as they would like to be seen, not as they actually are.

To construct an idealised version of their lives using the things that they think will make them look good or lend them some kudos in the eyes of others.

I'd say facebook might give an idea of what people aspire to be, or the kinds of things that will score points in their social circle....a flavour of the cultural milieu which they inhabit.

I dont think it gives a realistic inside view of anyones life, it's just the edited highlights, who knows what really goes on behind the scenes

[Elquota]

Facebook is like a constant version of those dreadful Christmas Round Robin letters! It's not compulsory and there are quite a few of us who don't use it.

[gallifrey]

I have unfriended everyone on my Facebook that posts crap or shows off about stuff on there.
I now only have nice people that I genuinely like on there and I feel so much better

[wonderingagain]

You have to learn to hide the invitations to candy crush saga etc. It took me ages to work that one out.

But I still get really peed off when people friend you and then don't post anything. They are just doing it to have a nose and have no intention of sharing anything. Then when they've got an event to show off about publicise they come on and get all friendly.

Reminds me to unfriend someone that used to ignore me in the playground, separated from her husband and then suddenly friended me when her ex started seeing someone . Nosy cow. He is now in a Rl with a lovely woman and it's announced on facebook so ex can simmer in silence (she had an affair now ended).

It's not a true reflection of people but it's as good an idea as you're going to get of someone's life anyway.