Naked Facebook Stupidity

OMG!  OMG!  Let's just say that what I was greeted with this morning in my Facebook Newsfeed I WAS NOT EXPECTING!  And I can't even begin to imagine how I would have explained it to my children had any of them been sitting next to me and seen the picture on my screen.

I will first point out that what was posted was not actually posted by my Facebook friend.  However, it was something she was tagged in.  But guess what, since she is my friend, anything other people tag her in, I get to see it, too!  AND THAT IS NOT WORKING FOR ME TODAY!

I truly don't know whether to laugh or be annoyed at what I would consider someone else's complete stupidity.  Didn't this young lady realize that all the people like me, who don't know her, are still going to see what she posted because she tagged people that were her Facebook Friends.  And her post will now appear in the news feeds of those tagged and all of the tagged people's friends.  SERIOUSLY!  WHAT WAS SHE THINKING....OH WAIT....SHE WASN'T THINKING!!!!

So what was the tagged picture that caused my mouth to drop wide open and leave me speechless (which is a hard thing to do)???  A woman posing COMPLETELY NAKED!!!  Full front view and all!  Nothing hidden or left for the imagination!  (Perhaps this was all an innocent mistake...she REALLY didn't mean for so many people to see it.  She REALLY meant to change her settings before posting the picture and forgot.  Yeah...I am going to go with that story...NOT!!!)

Don't get me wrong.  The naked human body is a beautiful thing.  Sometimes people will take pictures of themselves partially or fully naked and share those with someone else via an email, text message or hard copy.  That is a choice between individuals.  And for those that wish to share it publicly via magazines, movies, etc. - that is also their choice.   However, I don't believe I was offered the choice for this viewing option in my Facebook News Feed Settings.  LOL!

As I sat there stunned by my morning greeting, I tried to delete the post so none of the kids would accidentally see it.  But since I was viewing it on my iPhone, it would not allow me to delete it!  UUGGHH!  So my next quick option...to just unfriend my friend.   That was probably a good idea anyway, since who knows what other photos her friends may decide to post and tag her in.  And I am really not wanting another morning greeting from Facebook to be a photo of two people having sex or an orgy.  I already know what that looks like and don't need a photo on Facebook to show me or be shared with me!

Is it too early for a glass of wine to help get this image out of my head today?  I am sure it is 5:00 somewhere in the world right now!  LOL!

My Freedom of Speech - Part 2

In my last blog post "Freedom of Speech - Part 1" I wrote about my views and feelings regarding how I believe many people "misuse" and "hide" behind the right to "Freedom of Speech."  They use this "right" to mislead and hurt others...when that was not the original intent for this "right" back in 1789.

I respect other's opinions, even if they are not the same as mine.  I listen and read with an open heart and mind to others...even when it may be in complete opposition to what I think or believe...because it is NOT my place to pass judgement and if anything, it helps reaffirm why I DO believe what I believe.  Sometimes a differing opinion initially can lead to an opportunity for growth or change in one's opinion because another view had never been considered.

"Freedom of Speech" IS a wonderful thing!!!  And it can allow for so many AMAZING outcomes because of it.  But it can also create such negativity and turmoil, especially when people use it to intentionally hurt others.

When I read or hear something that erupts strong negative feelings, and my "sailor" mouth is flying off the handle in my head, sometimes the best thing for me to do is to do nothing.  At least for a couple of days, so that the "heat" I am feeling can cool off a little.   I don't want to be a reacting kind of person...because that can sometimes hurt, not help, an already heated situation.  So that is what I have been doing for the last couple of weeks.  Watching and waiting for the right time (if there really is one) to "speak" about a situation that I felt was misleading, hurtful, and just downright inappropriate by another blogger.

At first when I was typing up this blog post, I had originally included way more details regarding what triggered my outrage towards those that keep touting they have the right to say what they want because they are protected by "Freedom of Speech."   As I re-read my rant, I realized that I did NOT want to further feed the negativity that was swirling around not only me, but many others I had spoken to regarding the hurtful blog written by someone many of us knew.

I have come to realize that the issue at hand is one that probably warrants a face-to-face chat.  I am a "people" person.  I want to see their face, look at their eyes, watch their body language, and hear the tones in their voice.  I want emotions to be seen and feelings to be felt.  When using social media outlets, emails, text messaging, or commenting on blogs - the "real" person is lost.  People can hide behind these other forms of communication either by not being completely honest and holding back what they really feel or because they don't have to face the other person.  Or they can become extreme in their word choices (good or bad) - saying things they would NEVER say if facing the other person.

I have decided to use my "Freedom of Speech" - by saying nothing online.   And sometimes by not replying or saying anything, can speak VOLUMES - and that too, can be another form of "Freedom of Speech!"

My Freedom of Speech - Part 1

How do I even begin to appropriately write about a topic that is so heavy-weighted lately with politics, religion and personal opinion....but here goes.

I love that those of us living in America, have the right to "Freedom of Speech."  I feel honored that there are men and women from our country who have and continue to fight to protect this right for us Americans.  Without this right, the blogging world would not exist.  Much of what we see and hear on the TV, the Radio, in Print and on the Computer would never be known to us Americans, if we lived in another country that did not have "Freedom of Speech."

However, it saddens me that SO many people MISUSE "Freedom of Speech" and use this right to hurt, degrade, embarrass, humiliate, and in some cases destroy other human beings.  I don't understand why some people feel that it is OK to be MEAN and in many cases CRUEL, because they believe they have a "right" to do this with their words.  It is such a fine line with this "right" - one that I suppose I don't fully comprehend, but what I do know, is that I DESPISE those who think that by having the right to "Freedom of Speech", it gives them the "freedom" to lie (or not tell the WHOLE truth) and hurt others.

I don't believe that the fore-fathers of our country back in 1789, had this "misuse" in mind when they came together and drafted The Bill of Rights and included "Freedom of Speech."  I thought it was intended to protect the people from the British government...not destroy another human being.

During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

And The United States Constitution starts out with:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

How are we creating this "more perfect union" as people of the United States, when we keep tearing each other down with our words - and then hide behind The Bill of Rights, defending that we have a "right" to say what we want despite what it does to someone else.

Why is it that a famous person can sue a magazine for so-called "slander" and "misrepresentation" when the magazine prints a story that may not be "completely" true or "misleading" about the individual or a situation they are associated with.  And yet I know individuals who are being "slanderous" and "misrepresenting" situations they are blogging about in their blogs.  THEY are NOT being completely true.  Am I allowed to sue them for "slander" and "misrepresentation?"

Obviously, I am feeling pretty passionate about this topic, especially due to a recent personal experience.  And since I have a "right" to "Freedom of Speech," I intend to use that "right" - but NOT in the same way as others have - to tear someone down just to build myself up, be hurtful and provide misleading information.  I intend to "tell the truth...the whole truth...and nothing but the truth" - and hopefully those that read my blog post, will realize there ARE TWO sides to every "blog."  And just because someone touts that they are a "professional" at something, does not make them more important or more legitimate with their words, just because they think they are!