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!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree 100%, F. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

AMEN!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I totally agree, F.  Stuff should be here first.

[Robin and Libby Louise]

I think one of the problems with FB is the same as the problem with most internet communications - it's very difficult to know the intent of a post and the "tone" of the post is very open to interpretation.  So things that are meant to be taken in a certain way are often the cause of hurt feelings and conflicts that never needed to happen. I like FB for many reasons, including keeping in touch with people and reconnecting with people from the past, but it has its place and its limits.  And I want a ciderdoodle!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Ciderdoodles rock! ;)

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

There is not a better site on the Internet for information and support than Doodle Kisses!

[Camilla and Darwin]

It is true that Facebook and social media and the internet give everyone to be "an expert" on whatever they want. That is a bad thing of course. I think that this existed before obviously (I've heard DH's grandma precede crazy ideas and comments with  "My priest said..." way too many times to believe otherwise) but now it is more widespread and it's so easy to pass an idea around now.

I choose to view it optimistically though. In my experience I have found that  I, and most other people (younger kids especially), have learned the necessity of checking your sources. We have limitless information available to us, but we have to adopt the mindset of "take nothing for granted". Who is the information coming from? Do they have credentials? What is the evidence they are presenting? Do they have anything to gain from what they are saying? These are questions that first come to mind when I'm presented with information. 

I choose to believe that it's a wonderful thing, that we now can learn anything we want, and communicate with whoever we want, whenever we want. This is paired with a new scientist's mindset that demands "more information!" and evidence of the information we see.  I love globalization, we are more exposed to other people, other cultures, other mindsets, more than ever before. Kids are communicating more (even if it is in that dreadful text lingo) often and with more people. And because of this it's necessary to develop for a healthy skepticism of information, which luckily comes easily to us humans.

It really does make me happy to realize that young people have started to adapt to this new ability. I feel like there is a hunger for learning, and a curiosity about things that is very beneficial. If someone wants to know how to find information on good dog foods, they don't have to rely on what they heard at the pet store, or what their friend uses. They can look it up online, find multiple sources, look at reviews, and decide. Even getting immediate notices of recalls and buyouts is easier now. I feel like finding an answer may have been more difficult than it is now. Nobody need give up on a question because it's inconvenient or they don't have access to the information, it's just a few clicks away. It's available to anyone. To me that is wonderful. Has anyone heard of the Khan academy? Inspiring.

For me FB is primarily a way to share my life with my family and friends who I can't see very often. I am a huge photo uploader on FB, probably because I'm a photographer. :-) I get annoyed by chain posting and ridiculous "change your status to this for a month" posts but mixed in is the amazing ability to keep in touch with those that you wouldn't be able to otherwise. In addition it's a great tool for my photography business, as far as reaching people and sharing my work.

Of course this always comes with a downside, and a bunch of dumb people passing around false information and quoting  fake Einstein quotes seems to be it. :-) But there were stupid people before too, it's just harder to ignore them now. :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I wish I felt this way. Since I have been participating in various on-line forums and social websites, I have noticed more than anything else that the vast majority of people do not know how to research anything. There is not a day that goes by that someone doesn't say, here or on the DRC website, "I have researched this" and then it emerges that they have "researched" whatever it is on the websites of those who are selling the item, or in chat forums where the information is anecdotal. They are not evaluating the information with such excellent questions as "Who is the information coming from? Do they have credentials? What is the evidence they are presenting?" and most importantly: "Do they have anything to gain from what they are saying?" 

Perhaps this is a generational thing, or more likely, an educational thing, i.e. if someone has never learned to do formal research, as in writing a college term paper. But I also think that your intelligence and perception are not representative of the average social media site user, of any age. :)))) 

[Camilla and Darwin]

 I have to remain optimistic that people can learn. Or else things get really depressing. :-)

I agree with you that the majority of people don't seem to care enough to do the work needed to find real, correct information. But I think that would be true, with or without the internet. And the good thing is, that there are people who DO care enough, who will pass along correct knowledge and advice. Many people on this site are those people, who came here uneducated and through hard work and dedication, have learned so much more! Hopefully more will follow. :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's the difference: Before the internet, you had to get your information from printed material. To "research" something, you had to read a book. Or at the least, a newspaper, a magazine or another type of publication. 

There were no printed collections of random people's opinions. Nobody is going to publish a book or an article on, let's say mental health, written by me, lol. So at least the information you were getting was mostly provided by people who had some verifiable expertise in the area. 

On the internet, anyone can present information on anything. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I should add that I personally find the internet invaluable for research, and I deeply appreciate having access to so much information almost instantly. I can look up the ingredients in a particular dog food without having to go to the store. Having access to the information on my IBD dog owners support group has saved me a fortune on meds and also helped me emotionally. But that's a private group which is limited to people with dogs who have been reliably diagnosed with the disease, and there are lots of rules about recommending, advising, etc. Very different from FB, where anyone who heard or read anything from any source can advise others. So it goes back to knowing how to evaluate what you're reading.

[F, Calla & Luca]

All of what you said is so true Karen. But there were always random crazies who published books full of hokum.