Good-bye Facebook. . .

Mom's Moment
November 1, 2009

Have you ever become aware how the "obvious" sometimes goes unnoticed? Well, several "obvious" things have come to my consciousness the past little while, and I'm finally paying attention. I'd like to share my discoveries.

The first few years MySpace and Facebook were introduced, I staunchly opposed the children opening accounts. I did not feel like being on-line in that capacity was a good thing. There were lots of stories of on-line predators, and I didn't want to have anything to do with it.

But over time, it was easy for the kids to be unrelenting with the "all my friends are doing it . . . it's a great way to stay in contact . . . I'm careful who I add as a friend. . ." etc., and I gradually thought maybe it wasn't too bad. Eventually, I opened my own account so I could see what it was like, and to be more aware of what my children were involved in.

I am technologically literate. Computers don't befuddle me, and I LOVE how they can help us accomplish many things with greater ease and skill than ever before. However, this is what I've learned:

1. Myspace and Facebook DO initially help connect people. However, it subtly disconnects relationships. Are we really so busy that we have to do one-liners of "Patrice is...happy she got some practicing done today!"
2. If we are THAT busy, why are we on the Internet in the first place!

3. What kind of ads do YOU want to be exposed to? Do you really think the service is FREE? Well, maybe it doesn't cost you money, but someone is paying for those ads that pop up all kinds of things that I don't particularly care to see, and I DEFINITELY don't appreciate my children (teenage or adult) being exposed to. Why would we knowingly put ourselves in the position to have to choose whether we pay attention to them or not? People can say, "Oh, I don't pay attention to them...they don't affect me..." Well, they affect someone, and LOTS of someones, or businesses wouldn't pay big bucks for the advertising space.

4. As I look at ways I can improve myself, and hopefully help my children improve themselves, I think it's vitally important to listen to the prophet and the apostles. May 3, 2009, Elder David A. Bednar gave a talk at a CES Fireside for Young Adults that was broadcast from BYU-Idaho.
http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,538-1-4830-1,00.html

Here is a brief quote from his talk:

Today I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls. The concerns I raise are not new; they apply equally to other types of media, such as television, movies, and music. But in a cyber world, these challenges are more pervasive and intense. I plead with you to beware of the sense-dulling and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies that are used to produce high fidelity and that promote degrading and evil purposes.
If the adversary cannot entice us to misuse our physical bodies, then one of his most potent tactics is to beguile you and me as embodied spirits to disconnect gradually and physically from things as they really are. In essence, he encourages us to think and act as if we were in our premortal, unembodied state. And, if we let him, he can cunningly employ some aspects of modern technology to accomplish his purposes. Please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, ear buds, twittering, online social networking, and potentially addictive uses of media and the Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication. Beware of digital displays and data in many forms of computer-mediated interaction that can displace the full range of physical capacity and experience.

Dad and I are raising the flag of warning. Let's take a good look at what we are choosing to spend our time and energies with. Perhaps it's nothing "bad," but is it something GOOD? We need to be selective more than ever with what we choose to do with our time, with our relationships, and with our spirits. We want to encourage each of you children to be very selective. Strengthen TRUE relationships. Don't take them for granted. Nourish them, cultivate them. Learn to communicate in person! Don't let the Adversary short-circuit the wonderful opportunities in your lives by even the most subtle means.

We understand there are many people who use these Internet "opportunities." That is their choice. However, a scripture comes to mind that explains our feelings pretty well: Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve. Whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Ammorites in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

LOVE YOU TONS, FAMILY!!!