Monday, December 7, 2015

A Double Dose! BOTB Results for "Betcha By Golly Wow" and Question of the Month



Our battles take place twice a month: on the 1st and 15th.
 The results come six days later: on the 7th and 21st. That's 
when I return, total all of the votes, including mine 
(if necessary), and announce the winner. 

This music blogging event first introduced by our friends 
and I'd like to give them a heartfelt "thank you":

Fae @ Far Away Eyes 
Stephen T. McCarthy presents... 
Don't forget to visit the peeps (many of which do much, much better at BOTB):

YOUR DAILY DOSE


Now on to part 2!
Michael D'Agostino of A Life Examined (that sweet thunder from down under) started this blog hop with these words:

"Your readers would like to know a little more about you. Show them who you are by taking part in the Question of the Month bloghop. On the first Monday of each month, we answer the question that gets posted here. Sign up on the list (on Michael's site) to join the fun ;) With every question, remember that the important part is explaining your answer. And please, if you have any suggestions for new questions, share them in the comments section. I bet you've got some great ideas for us."
This month's question is: 

What one social convention would you like to get rid of?

A social convention is defined as "those arbitrary rules and norms governing the countless behaviors all of us engage in every day without necessarily thinking about them."

My personal pet peeves surround the new social conventions of social media sites - particularly Facebook. Must I accept your friend request? I'd love to see that obligation disappear.

Unknown friend-requestor from my past and present life, I'm sure you're a wonderful person, whether male or female or gender neutral. I recognize your name when you request that I "friend" you and sometimes, I genuinely think "hey, I wonder what has happened to him/her since we played on the playground in 1968.

The thing about the requests is this: is my acceptance of our "friendship" on Facebook of any value at all IF we never spend time together or interact in any way otherwise? 

I'll even give a thumbs up for online friendships where I find a genuine fondness for what a person does or their character. Our "Question of the Month" host, Michael D'Agostino, is a perfect example! He is fun, industrious, kind, and active in a ton of things. We have done some projects together online and I'm pretty willing to call him a friend in spite of the fact that I don't stomp the grounds of Adelaide, Australia. 

But, I'm not a numbers girl. It does nothing for me to just have a ton of Facebook friends who are friends, in reality. 

And recognizing my name isn't enough of a reason for me to to have a constant update of your cat's cute face or toddler's tantrum of the week in my news feed. 

Call me evil but I'd rather say I'm a realist. If someone could give that social convention a boot, I'd be so grateful. Particularly if you can do it before I tick someone else off...

 Visit my blog hop co-horts and read something far more insightful!  :-)
Posted by at

53 comments:

  1. stephen HayesDecember 7, 2015 at 9:38 PM

    I'd like to get rid of the social convention of badmouthing our government. Lets work hard to make it better, but not put it down just for sport.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:09 PM

      That's a great idea. Action, not lip flapping in 2016. That is as political as i want to get on the Flipside, lol.

      Thanks, Stephen! :-)

      Delete
  2. LindaDecember 7, 2015 at 10:24 PM

    A huge cheer for the Stylistics! Dearest Cherdo, it is a joy to see you back! Sending you much love and many hugs! :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:11 PM

      If you knew me "back in the day," dear Linda, you would have been amazed as how much I played those early albums.

      Delete
  3. LindaDecember 7, 2015 at 10:24 PM

    A huge cheer for the Stylistics! Dearest Cherdo, it is a joy to see you back! Sending you much love and many hugs! :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:12 PM

      ...and I still agree with your comment (this happens to me, too: doubles!).

      Delete
  4. Chrys FeyDecember 7, 2015 at 11:02 PM

    I used to feel that I had to accept people I knew years ago, but now I don't because most of them I did accept didn't even talk to me on FB so I ended up unfriending them. I'm not a numbers girl either. On my personal page, under my real name, I have 78 friends and a few of them I should even delete.

    I liked Stephen's answer in the comments.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:15 PM

      Stephen has a good head on his shoulders, lol. We are gonna keep him.

      I've got way too many on m FB page and they are people I know from one place or another...but there are too many, for sure. I don't have daily conversations with this many people. Why should they be on FB?

      The thing that stops me is the connection to the place I used to live. I DO like knowing what is going on in my old stomping grounds.

      Delete
  5. BirgitDecember 7, 2015 at 11:17 PM

    I'm on facebook and have few friends-hahahaaa and I am good with that. I actually had one friend request from a person I knew in high school who used to bully me! I had no problemo in declining. I saw my ex has over a 1,000 "friends". I don't get that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:17 PM

      Your ex is taking full advantage of the "suggested friends" list, I'll wager.

      But I'll still be your friend, ha ha.

      Delete
  6. MikeDecember 8, 2015 at 1:30 AM

    I'm up to 36 friends on facebook. I'm not sure I could handle anymore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:18 PM

      Know your limits around the holidays, right? On all fronts...

      Delete
  7. Alex J. CavanaughDecember 8, 2015 at 7:18 AM

    One more reason I'm glad I'm not on Facebook. Although the unknowns on Twitter and Google+ also qualify.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:18 PM

      I'm at the point of discouraging Twitter numbers and hoping some of them fall away.

      Delete
  8. UnknownDecember 8, 2015 at 7:49 AM

    Thank you for the kind words! I consider you a friend too :) I won't accept friend requests if I don't recognise them. There was even one person I vaguely recognised, but I'd never actually had a conversation with her so I deleted that too. Even when she sent a second one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:20 PM

      Thank you for that comment:I've experienced the same thing. Multiple requests! This from people who wouldn't be nearly so involved in getting my attention if I was in the same room with them.

      And that's why I "Ask an Aussie..."

      Delete
  9. Pat HattDecember 8, 2015 at 9:10 AM

    I deleted all my facebook crap and then actually got people whining that I wasn't on facebook. Sorry, don't need stalkers lol

    ReplyDelete
  10. Linda KayDecember 8, 2015 at 9:27 AM

    Oh, so funny...I'm in such a dilemma at the moment, as I have received several friend requests from folks I know, but why get even more "likes" posted as people pass things along. If I get more than one like a day from someone, they go on my "silent" list. My kids call me a Facebook stalker.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:23 PM

      Ha ha ha ha...that's funny, Linda. We are of one mind, girl...

      Delete
  11. Stephen T. McCarthyDecember 8, 2015 at 9:50 AM

    Well, DOC, your Battle was certainly closer than mine was.

    Declining "Friend" requests... Never been a problem for me, since I don't have Facebook. I don't "Tweet" either. Real Men don't "Tweet". Sheesh!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
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    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:24 PM

      You ARE a real man. I was beginning to think you might be an elf of my imagination. Good to know...good to know...

      Delete
  12. Mirka BreenDecember 8, 2015 at 11:07 AM

    I joined Twitter, reluctantly, and still don't get it. Like going to a party where all the popular people ignore you. And I did this, ahm, willingly...?
    So-- I would like to un-tweet, no offense meant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:26 PM

      Twitter is not one of my favorite things; I agree with you. Seems like the main purpose is to send a slam in 140 characters or less.

      Delete
  13. Arlee BirdDecember 8, 2015 at 11:15 AM

    This Battle had the right outcome. Stylistics for me!

    I've been much more selective in accepting friend requests on social media. I get some really weird requests from very dubious sounding people. I actually don't think some of those women are really women, but trollers looking to scam me.

    Arlee Bird
    Wrote By Rote

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 13, 2015 at 6:30 PM

      Really, the Stylistics are sooo good. It's a specific sound that defines an era and I love it.

      Fully 50% (made up stats) are probably phoney. Actually, I have no idea but if it follows the historical path of email...YIKES!

      Thanks, Arlee!

      Delete
  14. UnknownDecember 8, 2015 at 12:37 PM

    My FB page is only for true friends and family. When I get these friend requests from people I don't know at all, I have no problem clicking the DENY button. I'm with you on this one 100%

    ReplyDelete
  15. holliDecember 8, 2015 at 12:59 PM

    I prefer Instagram over FB. I love it because it's all pictures and not statuses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 14, 2015 at 11:34 PM

      I've missed you, friend. Hope you're feeling better.

      Delete
  16. Janie JunebugDecember 8, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    I don't feel as if I have to accept every friend request I get on Facebook. If I don't know who someone is, then how are we friends?

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dixie@dcreliefDecember 8, 2015 at 2:24 PM

    Cherdo, I think your battle stats are the closet I've seen today! My choice won, too. I keep the friend list short on Facebook. It's safer to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 14, 2015 at 11:33 PM

      That's the best way to go and I wish I'd learned that sooner. Thanks, Dixie!

      Delete
  18. UnknownDecember 8, 2015 at 3:29 PM

    Hi Cherdo, I'm new to your blog! :)

    I recently got on Snapchat and have been loving it. Primarily because I can take all the crappy photos I want and feel no worries over all the judgement it might incur, because it will all disappear in 24 hours.

    If I'd get rid of one platform, it would probably be Twitter. I'm just so over these tweet storms and nasty people who say hateful things for no other reason than because they can.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 14, 2015 at 11:35 PM

      Hi, Anna! Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm usually more active and I'm getting back there, hopefully. Glad to have you.

      Twitter is sorta of bleh right now. I'm actually trying to discourage followers, ha ha.

      Delete
  19. Jo-Anne's RamblingsDecember 8, 2015 at 4:06 PM

    I would like to see it banned to have thousands of Facebook friends but no one has thousands of friends just saying

    ReplyDelete
  20. CWMartinDecember 8, 2015 at 6:01 PM

    I treat friend requests like I do much everything else of dubious value... with a bloody, two edged axe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 14, 2015 at 11:36 PM

      Ouch, ha ha ha. "Dubious" is a good description.

      Delete
  21. AnonymousDecember 8, 2015 at 8:45 PM

    Pft.. I'm one of maybe two of my friends that has less then 100 people on their friends list. Everyone one of them I've met or talked to in the last year, so there ya have it. I don't accept random friend requests on my personal page and hate that it feels awkward to deny it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 14, 2015 at 11:37 PM

      Yes, but I've succumbed to awkward to the tune of 400+ people. Granted, no strangers - but several that I felt like I had to okay. I'm a media coward, ha ha.

      Delete
  22. Jeffrey ScottDecember 9, 2015 at 3:24 PM

    Wow, Phyllis lost, but not as much as I thought. This was another battle I voted for, realizing I was probably not going to win it.
    Good choice is what to eliminate. I've found Facebook is such a joke. Out of all my "friends", and to be honest, I DO know most of them IRL, very few EVER visit my blog or respond/comment on things I post to FB. Some friends. Like blogging, I do whatever I can to make sure I "like" what my friends post and comment when I can. But when I get no response? Why even accept my friend request, or send me one?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 14, 2015 at 11:40 PM

      I get that feeling about FB totally (but I'm failing as a blogger right now, too, so I can't really do anything but kick myself on that subject...a big black hole of commitments and responsibilities).

      Delete
  23. Stephanie FarisDecember 9, 2015 at 4:29 PM

    I'm very careful about the friend requests I accept now due to the number of fake ones that have come through. I usually make sure we have mutual friends before I'll click "Accept." But yeah, I don't like the pressure to accept real friends on FB...especially if it's someone you work with or a neighbor. What if you don't want those people all up in your business?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CherdoDecember 14, 2015 at 11:41 PM

      The fake ones make me CRAZY. I can't imagine what you get!

      The pressure for the "real" definitely got to me. And for the record, I DON'T want them "up in my business." Well put.

      Delete
  24. farawayeyesDecember 10, 2015 at 6:02 PM

    Yay for The Stylistics and the fact that I picked another winner this time.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Janie JunebugDecember 10, 2015 at 9:58 PM

    I'm here to check for picture verification.

    ReplyDelete
  26. A Beer for the ShowerDecember 13, 2015 at 6:37 PM

    I always find it funny when random people or people I barely know request me on Facebook, if only because I don't post all that much. My Facebook exists simply to exist. So on the flip side, sorry if you were expecting cute cat pictures or toddler pictures. I'd rather just browse than post every meal I've ever had and what I think of current hot button issues (I'll save you the trouble - no one cares).

    ReplyDelete
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    1. CherdoDecember 14, 2015 at 11:44 PM

      ...and you are on the flip side (lol)...

      Thanks, guys!

      Delete

Thanks for your personal yada, yada, yada,
Love, Cherdo

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