Not related to finances, but I'm weary of the hyperbole on Facebook, particularly in relation to new profile pictures. I see this almost exclusively with women, but every time someone gets a new profile pictures the comments are along the lines as follows:
Stunning!
Beautiful!
Gorgeous!
Hot!
etc. etc.
Why is "great picture!" or whatever not good enough anymore? We're not all stunning or beautiful or whatever. Why do we need to engage in such hyperbole? Fellow females, I'm looking at you.
As for why... I know I'm not stunning, gorgeous, hot. I'm a middle-aged woman with a commensurately aged and un-plasticized face and body. But geez, it feels GOOD to hear I'm pretty, if I know that by this culture's impossible standards I'm no better than a two. At worst, it's a white lie that hurts no one. And you know what? Sometimes it's not even a lie. My friends are beautiful to me, always. So why shouldn't I say so? So, there's a "why" or two.
Thanks for your perspective. I understand what you are saying. I guess I just think that the hyperbole downplays real compliments or real expressions of affection. I just object to the constant "You go girl" culture of Facebook in general. And the very, very public displays of affection and expressions of love that IMO are more of a private nature. For instance, anniversaries or Mother's Day or Father's Day. Now telling your mom that she is your best friend or your spouse the best man or woman you have ever known has migrated into a public and open forum for all of your 100 or 200 or 300 or (good lord) even 1,000 friends to see. I guess I just reserve my compliments of my friends or my husband for face-to-face meetings or private e-mails or cards.
Maybe it's just a personality thing, but these types of excess displays of affection make me uncomfortable, because it doesn't ring true to me.
Also, I think in a social media world, women can become somewhat reliant on these IMO extreme displays of affection and a complimentary culture. If you change your public profile picture now and no one comments with "Foxy!" or whatever, does that mean that you are not as sexy or beautiful as the friend who did get those responses?
And, to get back to finances, this type of "You go girl" culture reinforces consumerism. You post a picture of your manicure or your new outfit and you get the requisite "You deserve it!" or all the myriad of things that we see posted here.
I use Facebook and definitely think that it has its place, but it also brings out some aspects of peoples' personalities that I don't always enjoy.