Tracker Pixel for Entry

Is it OK to brag on Facebook?

Editorial | October 17th, 2013

Huffington Post recently published an article called “7 Ways to Be Insufferable on Facebook.” It basically tells us to quit “serving ourselves” on social media.

Sure.

The author did use some great examples of statuses that can absolutely be self-serving:

“Ughhhhhhhhh,” – Goodness, you’re not the only one with problems.

“Finally finished my paper!” – Well, whoop-de-doo-doo.

“Hawaii!” – Yes, we are happy for you that you are in Hawaii, but at least post a picture or something. Make it interesting.

But honestly, if these posts were that annoying and insufferable, nobody would go on Facebook because these type of posts are littered all over the site.

Granted, the article itself is kind of jokey. But is it really all that bad to post something like “Guess who just got into med school!” on Facebook?

Well, let’s first use an example of a post that is truly insufferable: “Guess who got into med school, who is sleeping with the hottest chick in class and who just finished the New York Marathon in under 3 hours! ME! ME! MEEEE!”

If we post about our incredible, brilliant accomplishments and “induce jealousy,” that’s the viewer’s problem, right?

Maybe I’m just writing this because I’m trying to defend my own “braggy” Facebook updates, e.g., “Holy snakes, I get to interview Professor Bottom Boots today!” or “My robot dance video just reached 100,000 views on YouTube!”

Everybody else does it. Therefore, it’s not bad, right?

We don’t think that this author thinks our status updates are insufferable – whatsoever. But we do think that he is looking down on us (kind of contradicting for an article that’s trying to promote humility) for being self-serving – and is warning us of the unintended consequences of becoming addicted to social media.

Indeed, there are some. The more we post, the more we check – especially if a post is gossipy, funny, juicy or exciting. We get into arguments and we try to think of funny comeback comments. In a way it exercises our reasoning and creativity skills. I’ve once spent an hour commenting on some status update on Facebook. Once you pop, the fun doesn’t stop.

But before we know it, we’ve realized we spent half of our day staring at photos of people that mean nothing to us. Before we know it, we’ve just lost 3 hours of our lives to some status update that reads, “The Affordable Care Act is going to destroy our country,” arguing with someone we know we could never make weight with. We leave the computer feeling more discouraged and angry.

Yes, there is something to be said about humility, what this “serve others” article is ineffectively trying to promote. Humility is an absolute virtue. It promotes self-respect and kindness. And according to human principle, we cannot truly befriend someone unless we give kindness back.

And that is precisely why it is OK to post something like “Guess who just got into med school!” Because it allows the spread of kindness. It allows others to be happy for one another. It gives us an opportunity to makes others feel good about themselves. That’s a very, very, very good thing.

Yes, getting lots of likes on Facebook can make us feel better about ourselves, no doubt about it. Isn’t that why Facebook is so addicting? Absolutely. We post things and can get an immediate positive response.

But Facebook can only invite so much surface happiness in to our lives. The deep stuff must be gathered non-virtually, obviously.

We think most of us are smart enough to know that. We think most of us are smart enough to know when we are truly being insufferable on Facebook.

Recently in:

By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.com The business of Indian Hating is a lucrative one. It’s historically been designed to dehumanize Native people so that it’s easier to take their land. ‘Kill the Indian, save the man,”…

By Johnathan Campbell history@nd.gov Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought I’d share three mysterious — and mildly creepy folktales — that have been shared about the Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site,…

Thursday, November 7, 8 p.m.The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, FargoThe Minneapolis indie rock duo Bad Bad Hats hits the Fargo stage promoting their brand new, self-produced album titled “Bad Bad Hats.” Their name came from a song…

By Jim Fugliejimfuglie920@gmail.com As a political columnist, I know I should be writing an election preview for the issue of this paper that comes out just a couple weeks before what is being labeled, once again, as “the most…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWill We Ever Recover from the Trump Virus of Universal Hate?Just a month ago, the primary doctor of 336 million U.S Americans,U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory on the mental…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com In this land of hotdish and ham, the knoephla soup of German-Russian heritage seems to reign supreme. In my opinion though, the French have the superior soup. With a cheesy top layer, toasted baguette…

North Dakota’s All Star Tribute to John Prine at the Fargo TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comOn November 3, The Radio Stars are rounding up a number of North Dakota’s finest musicians from Watford City to the Red River…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Writer-director Nicole Riegel’s sophomore feature “Dandelion” is now playing in theaters following a world premiere at South by Southwest in March. The movie stars KiKi Layne as the…

By HPR Contributorssubmit@hpr1.com They are the inventive, passionate, adaptable, resourceful, sometimes over-enthusiastic, wack-tacular people who create art in our community, and they’re opening their studio doors to you for…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By John Showalter  john.d.showalter@gmail.comThey sell fentanyl test strips and kits to harm-reduction organizations and…

Rynn WillgohsJanuary 25, 1972-October 8, 2024 Rynn Azerial Willgohs, age 52, of Vantaa, Finland, died by suicide on October 8, 2024. Rynn became her true-self March 31, 2020. She immediately became a vocal and involved activist…

By Dina Butcherdina.wtba@midconetwork.com In 1938, when my parents were living in Germany, my father — along with 30,000 other Jewish men — was rounded up by Nazi Stormtroopers during an event known as Kristallnacht. He was taken…