To Blog or Not to Blog?

To Blog or Not to Blog?

That has been the question for quite some time. I have been toying with the idea of blogging now for about a year, but more seriously in the past few months. I have gone back and forth several times, and ultimately (obviously) I decided to go for it.

I feel it is necessary to explain why I decided to go for it, and why it was ever a question. So I will list the pros and cons that have been debating in my mind recently:

(Reasons) To Blog:

1. It is a way for my voice to be heard.
2. It should be cathartic.
3. It will be a form of apologetics.
4. Maybe someone besides my husband wants to hear what I have to say. (Hi, Nick!)

(Reasons) Not to Blog:

1. No one will read my blog.
2. People might not like what I have to say.
3. What if people aren't nice?
4. What if I get called names?
5. What if someone says I'm ugly? Or fat?
6. What if someone starts stalking me?
7. What if I get in trouble at work for what I say in my blog?
8. Afs;lkjaflsjaoiwef'aiodf

The latter list is probably a lot longer than this, but I can sum up all of those missing points with this: The devil doesn't want me to blog. Every time I would consider writing a post about a controversial issue, he would point out any and all negative consequences that could possible come from it. Every time I read a great post by Mama Needs Coffee or Carrots for Michaelmas, I would doubt my own blogging capabilities (...OK both of those blogs are AMAZING and will probably make anyone question their own abilities to articulate their point of view/defend the faith/etc.).

So what made me do it? What made me take the plunge? My discontent with social media and my lack of ability to post freely about my faith and my position on controversial matters, for one. Yes, I realize that my blog is more accessible than my Facebook page, but I figure most blog visitors are halfway interested in my views, and thus have to make an effort to type in the web address. Also, I couldn't fight the feeling that maybe there's a reason the Evil One didn't want me to share my story. Even if I am the only one who reads this blog, his evil ways might lose their grip on me.

 And my husband. 

Breaking Up with Facebook

Breaking Up with Facebook (July 29, 2015)

I broke up with Facebook today. It has been coming for a while now, and only in hindsight can I now see that. Facebook has been very selfish-- demanding a lot of my time and attention, and giving me only frustration, jealousy, and shallow desires in return.

The tipping point came when the story broke last night of a beloved lion being shot in Africa a few days ago. I feel it is necessary to say up front that I do not condone this act. I actually disagree with the “sport” of hunting quite a bit, and do not exactly love that my husband owns two firearms. The notion of paying thousands of dollars to shoot/kill some of God's most majestic creatures is deplorable. However, the outrage that this has sparked across social media has been the real reason for my discontent with Facebook. I posted something along these lines as my status early today:

“There are many more problems in the world today than one dead lion. #isthisreallife”

This might actually be exactly what I posted, but I can't go crawling back to my ex (ie, “reactivate”) and look now. We've only been broken up an hour.

I received a few comments that only further proved my sentiment in the first place. Seriously, Jimmy Kimmel choking up about this event on live television? Come on. The lion's assassin is already in hiding, his business is kaput, and he is being crucified on social media. Is this really necessary?

(Reminder: I am disappointed in this guy's choice to kill a defenseless animal. Seriously, when my family goes to the zoo, I feel bad for the animals stuck in cages. Anyway, back to the breakup story.)

There ARE so many more important and troublesome things going on today than the death of a lion. How can anyone disagree with that? I'm not even trying to make a political statement here, so {insert important personal political issue}. Amiright?

Here are a few things that are more newsworthy than Cecile the Lion's death:

1. A temporary restraining order has been placed on the Center for Medical Progress, barring them from releasing more Planned Parenthood videos.
2. Approximately 3,000 babies are aborted each day. Surely they are worth more than one lion, right? No?
3. This LGBT activist is determined to destroy religious liberty in the US within the next three years. Our founding fathers must be rolling over in their graves.

These might not be more important, but still equally as newsworthy:

1. Donald Trump is disgusted by breastfeeding. Thanks, bro.
2. Whataburger is the best burger in the country. Yaaaas!
3. Here's a video of an ape kissing a pregnant woman's belly. Even non-humans are pro-life.

Sooo what does this have to do with Facebook? I guess I just miss the good 'ole days when our relationship was mostly about keeping up with friends and family I don't get to see everyday, instead of a place where everyone declares their personal political ideologies and denounces/shames/vilifies/crucifies everyone else who disagrees with their position. Facebook has made everyone a political pundit/constitutional expert/internet celebrity in their own minds. Its a lot easier to argue from the other side of your computer or phone screen. Why can't we all just get along?

I also do not like how irritated I become when reading things I disagree with. I'm not one to pick a fight over social media (seriously, how cowardly!), so I stew over it for a while. There has been SO MUCH of this sort of thing this summer. Have things always been so heated, or is it just getting worse?

Anyway, Facebook and I may make amends in the future. I already have friends and relatives complaining about not being able to see pics of the little one. *sigh* I want my old Facebook back. The one I originally fell in love with.

P.S. Tomorrow is my birthday, so you know it must be serious when I didn't stick it out for one more day ;)