FaceBook Makes Me Want to Scream Sometimes!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Since I have been on DK almost since DK became a website, I have watched many people (including myself) come aboard and be educated not only about all things Doodle, but Dog things in general.  I've often said that if it were not for DK, DH and I never would have survived two puppies, much less Liter mate puppies.  We have learned so much of what to do and what not to do.  We would probably be feeding Science Diet or IAMS as the last time we had a dog those were the go to foods.  I know we would never have gotten Pet Insurance and I'm not sure how we would ever have made it through a torn CCL surgery, much less Sophie's cancer and loosing Sophie without DK.  I know that we would never have AnnaBelle as it was only because of those here that I learned about her breeder and the wonderful puppies that result.  Yes, we have a lot of fun here, but we also learn and educate others.  With that said, I cannot tell you how many times lately I've just wanted to scream with the posts on FB on the various Doodle pages.  Sometimes it feels to me like we have lost the battle.  I get so frustrated when a question gets asked and 50 people jump in and say "I feed Purina and my dog is wonderful"  or "look how cute she is stealing socks by the dozens".    FB is a great social site and I love it for keeping up with our military friends all over the world, but as a teaching tool it, suc$s!  It is too hard to have a discussion educating people when they make these posts when there are so many people handing out bad advice.  5.5 years ago I would not have known how much of it is bad advice, but I feel like 5.5 years and three doodles, and DoodleKisses have given me a little bit of knowledge and I can see how bad the advice is.  The people don't have bad intentions, and they are trying to help, but ugh, it makes me crazy!  

[F, Calla & Luca]

The difference is that I don't necessarily trust anyone here either until I know they give sound, fact based information. After awhile get to know who knows a lot about certain subjects and you don't have to check things. For instance! Karen with food. But I do learn a gazillion things all over the net butI go to reliable sources like professional sites, or the Mayo clinic or an agricultural extension etc. At this stage of my life I have no reason to believe any Joe Schmo knows more than I do.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I have gotten to "know" who has sound advice here on this site versus kind of "shoot from the hip advice"

and appreciate the difference.  It takes a bit of time and common sense.  FB on the other hand is a vast wasteland of opinions.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know what you mean about the doodle FB sites, Sheri. One of my pet peeves as well. On the DRC FB page, I can try to keep the topics to rescue, fosters, etc., ask people not to give health/diet advice, refer them to appropriate info, and delete things when necessary. I can't even look at the other sites, they upset me so much. Part of the problem is that nobody reads what others have posted, either, so valuable info gets lost amidst the dreck.  

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

that is a very valid point and unfortunately too true..

[Charlotte and Bo]

Facebook is good for reminding me of family events and for playing games.( Love that Candy Crush)  It's not a place I would look for information on much of anything.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I agree wholeheartedly!!! I always wonder if I should jump in but the other doodle site I see on FBis not my breeder so I try not to add my two cents. It's crazy-making though. Thank goodness we have DK.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I have found I do enjoy seeing friends and family's activities and there is much I would never know about if it weren't for FB. Like a friend in my home state who's son had recently died, or children of friends and families marriages and new baby pictures and exciting trips they've taken. But I have to say, that is probably 25% of what is on my page and the rest is just useless annoying information. I have unfriended and unliked so much, just to find it back again. And I can't even begin to explain how irritating it is to see people post things that try to make it sound like their lives are SO much better than they really are.
So just last week I deactivated my FB page. And everyday since I get weird text notices from FB from random acquaintances who I have never posted to, responding to what they say is a post from me to them. And the only was to "stop" the message is to log on to FB ! Which of course means reactivating my account! It's like FB has a method in place to try to reel you back in. 2 of them came to my phone at 1:52 Am this morning! Very strange indeed.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Send FB to spam!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Good idea, except it's coming to my phone as texts, not emails. Crazy huh?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

FB is really overrated and way too public!  Except for keeping in touch with far away family or friends, I see no purpose in FB, and in fact I don't even think it is so great for keeping in tough with family and friends.  Send a group e-mail or pictures and be personal is much better. 

[Jennifer and Jack]

While I totally agree about the education on FB.. It is a nightmare for some groups... I run a fan club page for my breeder on FB and it is very hard to keep information anywhere unless you create a document for the group so I find myself repeating myself and pasting links to this site all the time.. but I don't mind.

To me FB is like going out to dinner with friends or having a drink with them or something social.. as some of you are my FB friends you will see I am an self pro-claimed over-sharer of all things related to my life.... but for me, as someone who is a total people person, in fact I am pretty sure I am the biggest people person I know.... and as someone who is basically wheel chair bound now, FB is such an amazing thing for me. I have really amazing friend throughout the country, back home in Jersey, friends I worked with for years..... I have spent a good portion of my life building good relationships and all except a few have worked out really well...

I spend hours a day doing treatments and I miss my friends so I ADORE popping on to facebook and watching friends I had from childhood who I used to play dolls with become mothers.... Other CF people who I can't see in person because of germs share stories I can relate to.  I am friends with my kindergarten teacher, many of the doctors and nurses who cared for me over my life as well as people I just don't get to talk to that much but that I truly love.....

I smile from ear to ear reading updates.. It brings me a lot of joy and makes me feel part of the world.... without Facebook I would feel very isolated..... we all find our niches...some of you are connected on here and that is your connection and it is awesome.. some of us are connected on here and FB....... I will forever be grateful for facebook otherwise I would never get to see so many of my friends from Jersey that I can't get back to lives and families develop...... 

I also connect with a lot of people from here on FB and we as my family use FB as a means to relay medical information about me to  selected people and groups of my friends..way easier then personal private messages, we just block who we don't want to know....

Plus to be honest, the amount of love and prayers I get from people on Facebook, give me the strength to keep fighting.. If I didn't have contacts like that my life would be a lot more empty....  THat said

FACEBOOK is the WORST for education.. People copy and paste other statues and just assume it's true. hoax of all kinds go on, lies, crazy stories and no one listens at all in group settings.. but personally on my personal page, for me, and for the type of person I am, it makes my life a lot more happy to be able to feel like I am part of so many peoples lives.. cheering them on, crying with them praying for them, loving them and being loved back.... but again my personality is that of the never ending optimist usually and I just truly love most people minus those who mistreat animals and humans.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I resisted getting a FB account for a long time. Now I personally use it to keep in touch with family and friends and the travels of some of some of the artists I have connections to through my job.  I mostly check in and then check out of FB. I don't consider it for advice.  Even my 86 year old mother is on FB, LOL  In my job, however, social media is a must so we use FB, Twitter, Kickstart etc. And I am a Google addict when it comes to reliable sources. But I must confess that I spend no time on other forums or doodle FB pages.  I got burned with a Recommended Breeder on one well known site and that was enough for me. DK is it for me --and I try to get  others to join. What's that saying...You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.