I am feeling a bit self-conscious these days.
Why is that? Well, I’ve been pretty active on Facebook for about five years or so. I’ve developed a pretty healthy list of “friends,” many of whom are actual friends; others of them are “friends” only according to Facebook parlance.
Of late, some of my friends have expressed concern — some of them outright anger — over the politicization of this particular social medium. They don’t like all the politics being spouted on what is supposed to be a place for people to connect, interact socially and exchange good tidings.
I use Facebook, though, as a vehicle on which to distribute my blog. Many folks who read High Plains Blogger’s musings/spewage/commentary do so on Facebook.
High Plains Blogger is meant to be a platform to talk about politics, public policy and what I call “life experience.” You get plenty of politics and policy, for sure. You also get a decent dose of life experience as I enjoy writing about upcoming retirement, and ownership of a rambunctious puppy.
In order to boost my blog traffic, I like using Facebook — along with Twitter, LinkedIn and Google — to spread whatever word I feel like spreading at the moment. Indeed, my Twitter feed is linked also to my Facebook feed. Therefore, when I tweet about this and/or that political event, it goes to Facebook, too.
I should add that I generally don’t post things exclusively on Facebook that deal with politics, although I do admit to “sharing” others’ political points of view.
The day might arrive when I get so much blog traffic that I no longer feel the need to use Facebook to transmit High Plains Blogger’s message — whatever it is.
My particular problem, though, might be in determining when I’ve gotten enough traffic, that I longer need to distribute it on other social media.
Perhaps that day will arrive when I’ve decided I’ve got enough money.
For now and perhaps for the foreseeable future, I guess you’ll have to bear with me.
In the meantime, I also will just have to deal with my self-consciousness.
John,
I follow you because you are one of the few places on Facebook…whether I agree with you on the particular topic or not…where reason prevails over the hysterics. Keep it coming.
Thank you, Jim. I wasn’t fishing for that, but I’ll accept it … with gratitude.