Something I noticed on Facebook

If you need help with something, though? Facebook isn't always the best place to ask.

Sure, you may get some good tips. But in my experience - both in my own posts and reading what others have asked - the majority of the responses will be bad advice. This reminds me of the time I searched the ol' web for where to buy pumpkin spice roll. Every single search result was a recipe for pumpkin spice roll. I had no interest in making the dessert myself. I just wanted to eat it. This is what asking for help on Facebook is.

The other day I asked for someone with a drill to come over and make some holes for me so I could mount a camera out back on one of my fence posts. I feel it's necessary to let you know that I do not own my home and would usually not be allowed to drill into anything here. But I paid for the fencing myself so it's fair game. More than one person suggested I buy a drill. First of all, I have never used a drill in my life and I generally don't have a good time using power tools. Second, I am not buying a whole drill set to use one time. I just needed someone to come over and make four holes so I can screw in this camera mount. That's all. Plus, I've spent enough money dealing with my dickhead neighbor and I'm not looking to drop more. It's ridiculous that I have to do any of this, but that's a story for another time [and it's already been told].

And I get it. People are suggesting these things to make me more independent or to learn a new skill or whatever. But I have no interest in either of those. I don't have the time or the energy to devote to screwing something up a few times before I get it right. I will happily pay someone else to complete the task the first time. Other people have skills I don't and I am more than willing to help put food on their tables for a reasonable price. Helping the economy and whatnot.

It's just a really weird trend I've noticed. I saw someone ask about lawn service over the summer and at least four people shared links to weed eaters on sale. They did not understand the assignment. Maybe that person had an injury and physically couldn't cut their grass. Maybe they work late and wouldn't be able to get it done before their city or town handed out citations. Or, and this is perfectly acceptable too, maybe they just didn't want to cut their grass. I can absolutely relate to that as I never want to cut my grass. I don't have a lot of it, but that is by far my least favorite chore.

I knew nothing about the person's health, mobility, time, or lawn issues. All I saw was that they wanted someone to come cut their grass. I could not help them, so I kept scrolling. I really wish other people would do this. If you don't have an answer to the question or a solution to the problem, keep it moving. You don't have to respond to every post someone makes. I do have an idea for a piece about how the timeline feature ruined Facebook, and maybe social media as a whole, and when I can finish it up I will share it with you here. I will likely refer to this issue when we get there, because the public comment threads can be quite a place if your friends of friends are of a certain ilk.

I know this is a dumb thing to be so miffed about, but it both happens all the time and just happened to me yesterday so it was on the brain. I just don't get the need to weigh in on a topic that either has nothing to do with you or when you can offer no actual assistance. Maybe it's my lifetime of "I don't want to say the wrong thing" anxiety coming through, but the fewer opportunities I have to contribute the better. (Also I hate getting notifications for other people's comments. Leave me alone, Zuck!)

Is there any social media practice that grinds your gears, friends? Let me know! 

Thanks for coming and until next time, don't do anything I wouldn't do!

Crap open a cold one!