Have you met Bill? Chances are, if you haven't been in a cave for the past two weeks, then you have. Bill is a stick man and he has a Facebook page with a stream of funny posts in, more or less in the same format. Each post encourages you to 'be like Bill'. You know, don't use Facebook to post about your ex, or don't use Facebook to tell other people what the weather is doing, or don't use Facebook to tell your friends that you just went to the gym (show off!)
But, wait a minute, don't tell people you just went to the gym?
See, at first I kinda thought the posts were funny. Yes, I can see it's snowing outside, I agree, you don't need to post SNOW! in case I hadn't noticed. And ha-ha, yes it is annoying when people write statuses about people without mentioning them by name, people should probably lay off that. But...let's examine some of the other things that Bill doesn't do:
1) Bill doesn't take pictures of his meals before he eats them and post them for his friends to see
2) Bill doesn't like his own photos on Facebook
3) Bill doesn't take selfies in the gym with his top off
4) Bill doesn't use Facebook to ask questions, he uses Google instead
5) Bill doesn't use Facebook to chat to a girl he likes (because he goes to talk to her in person instead)
Who made these rules?
Okay, sure, I'm not saying Facebook is a much better place for these things, but I don't think people aren't 'smart' if they do any of them. I mean, I have had to ask questions on Facebook before, when Google has failed me (or when I temporarily forgot that Google existed...yes - that happened!) I've definitely seen people like their own photos - and they were really good photos, so why ever not? I don't really mind if people take selfies. I mean, I'm not especially sure I want to see some dude take his top off for them, but I have heard of hiding posts/people and the 'see less of this' option.
I know someone just created Bill for a laugh, but I think this kind of humour has the potential to restrict people's genuine expression of who they are. Yes, Facebook has a set of norms and values, in fact it has a set of T&Cs which should be followed. However I firmly believe that you should be proud that you just went to the gym/just finished a run/just finished that ridiculously difficult level on Candy Crush. And why can't you share that with the people you like?
No reason whatsoever.
So, no, don't be like Bill. Be like you. Don't be afraid to post those fabulous photos of your meals! After all, the haters are too busy reading posts by Bill to see them anyway ;)
