Goodbye Facebook

I'm not sure why writing this post has my heart racing, but so be it...

I've been aware of my compulsion to check Facebook and its statuses, notes, mobile uploads, etc., etc., practically since I first signed up. In the beginning it seemed harmless enough: it was good for a laugh; I liked being in touch with people I hadn't seen in years; and becoming part of the photographic social media community was enjoyable. Then I started realizing that when something of note happened away from the computer I almost immediately would translate the experience into "Elizabeth Fleming [insert comedic moment/event/annoyance here]" format. It was also a time-sucker, and even though it felt like a ridiculous thing to be fixated on, I didn't seem able to cut down my time on it. I spend my workdays in front of the computer, and as much as I tried to do the work first and the Facebook trolling second, inevitably the trolling took precedence. Every time I pulled myself away there was that sense of: what could I have been doing with that hour? Or should I say, those hours?

And so for weeks now I've been asking myself: is it worth it? If every time lately when I think about deleting my account I feel a sense of euphoria, isn't that a sign? It's been easy to talk myself out of it, based on my art, based on having a Fan Page, based on using it as a networking tool. But there are plenty of photographers out there who aren't on Facebook and are doing just fine, and if my creativity is being sapped through a medium that I've come to use as a way to zone out, all the networking in the world doesn't matter. Plus, I'm tired of thinking about myself in the third person.

2010 is coming and it's the time of the year when we make resolutions. Usually I'd be adding something to the effect of "strike a balance with social media" to my list. But I know myself: I'm not in general a black-and-white, all-or-nothing person--in this case however it's like I can't help but eat the entire box of donuts, and then some, so it's time to let it go.

Farewell Facebook friends, I really will miss you. You can always find me here on the blog, or communicate via email (I'm not becoming a hermit), or who knows--I may even see you on the street. I hope you'll send me show invites and information on what you're up to at elizabeth @ elizabethfleming.com. Once I'm done alerting all of you via Facebook (ah, the irony!) I'm going to hold a private virtual funeral and bury the beast, 24 hours from now.

Oh, and goodbye to you too, Twitter. I never really did love you.