Using Facebook as Your Own Diary

As someone who is almost 50 I can tell you that this has been going on long before Facebook. People have ALWAYS complained about their kids, money, spouses, jobs, you name it. Mostly they are just venting.
Anytime I read something on FB that makes me roll my eyes I just move on and remember the old saying: Not my circus, not my monkeys!

I have seen this referred to as facebaiting (see the Urban dictionary).

Lots of people do it every once in a while when having a bad day, but if that is all someone ever does, then I just stop following that person. It is their prerogative to say what they want - everyone has their own level of comfort with openness/privacy. But regardless, if someone continually posts things that either bring me down or that affect my IRL opinion of that person, I stop following them. I am not required to read something just because someone posts it.

ETA: I also want to add that I think it's important to not judge people based on their FB posts. A person that focuses on positive thoughts on their FB page doesn't have a perfect life. A person that vents about the negative on FB isn't always unhappy. Everyone is far more complicated than their FB profile. We tell our kids all the time that just because you read what someone writes online doesn't mean that we know that person. We need to take our own advice.

I would never presume to know everyone's situation, but I do know people who use Facebook in similar ways. I believe, it's their way of getting attention and hoping for pity or validation or whatever.

I know someone who posts constantly. Everything she posts is either a great tragedy (a mosquito bite on her foot - oh, no! How will she ever be able to put on shoes and be a waitress for 6 hours?) or the greatest thing ever (Look, someone brought me McDonald's! I'm the luckiest girl in the world!!!) I couldn't take it. I had to unfollow her.

I do have another FB friend who is in the military. She posts all the time, but she doesn't post anything similar to what you are saying. She posts because she is away from all her friends and is often lonely. She's actually quite mature about it and has made friends there. Still, who can blame her for wanting to stay connected.

I honestly believe that some people are just insecure or lonely and hoping that their FB friends will write things to make them feel better. Honestly, I pity the first person I mentioned, and I pity many other people. Facebook has it's place, but if you're using FB in order to feel validated, I really do feel sorry for you.

to each their own.. if you don't like it then unfollow them or hide their posts. i have people hidden because i could not handle their level of drama. some do it for drama some do it for attention some out of bordom, others might think that is what facebook is for. whatever the reason you don't have to read about it.
what if she got pregnant on accident? i did, i wanted to wait another month or two before trying for baby 2 but one missed pill and i was pregnant! so before you judge her decision to have another maybe you should know all the details and not just the ones posted about on social media.

it's THEIR story. They can vent, share or say what they want on their wall.

Just like Instagram and snapchat - you tell your story.

If you don't like what they share? unfriend them, unfollow them or just ignore.

I don't know why people who can't afford 3 feel they can afford 4. Ask THEM that question. NOT me.

I don't have a facebook account. This is the only "social media" I have.

My husband has facebook as does my oldest son. I look through theirs every once in a while.

I laugh at the jokes posted by people. I see the sad stories of people. They are sharing. If you choose to participate? Great. Make a difference in their lives. If not? and you're sick of it? Then just unfriend them.

Tyler has a friend that posts positive things every morning. This friend has had a lot of tragedy in their life lately. These posts help them maintain a positive outlook so they don't get lost in the turbulence of life.

Instead of making it about YOU? Why not have some compassion for their story on THEIR wall? If they aren't clogging YOUR wall with it, what's the problem?

There are several options. You can unfriend them. You can unfollow them. You can snooze them.

If you don't like what they post then for goodness sake, don't read it.

Because somehow oversharing is what some people do. I've got a couple FB friends who do nothing but complain about how the world is soooo unfair to them. And yet their share every bad decision they make so its not that the world is unfair its that they make stupid choices.

I just unfollow the people who are really annoying that I can't unfriend for one reason or another. I'd recommend it instead of being bothered by their postings.

I am assuming you don't mean an literal diary just posting what is on their minds. I could be wrong. Some people need an outlet and at times FB seems the only place they can get it out.

Since it's their page, they are entitled to say whatever they want, and you can click "unfollow" or even "block" if you don't want to see it. I've always wanted to know why people come on this site just to vent and shame others.

I wouldn't think of their posts as a diary. They are just venting. People who have used Facebook for some time often treat Facebook friends similar to in person friends. I've seen that some people focus on what they don't like. They aren't interested in making life better. They just vent. I've known people who complain about their husbands, children and their life with them who I see in person that they are satisfied with their life as a whole. I've also noticed that complaining is accepted as a way to feel one with other moms. Complaining is expected in some groups.

My adult daughter has a difficult life and never complains on Facebook. She complains to a couple of her real life friends. It sounds like they have similar experiences that they complain about. It's an actual conversation. Posting on Facebook feels different.

There are different personalities and different ways to use Facebook most often based on their values. I prefer privacy but then I'm 75 and was taught to keep personal issues private to be shared only with family and close friends. My daughter is 36. There was no social media growing up. She, on her own, decided to present a good front with people she doesn't know. She posts what is good in her life. Both of us have limited Facebook friends. I suggest that those who grew up with social media think differently about social media. They don't realize that everything they post is out there forever and that their posts are used by others for advertising and providing posts on subjects that they seem to be interested in. We're learning that Russia has hacked Facebook. Who knows who has your information.

Using Facebook as a diary?
Hell no!
With all the privacy issues and just having your life written out where everyone can read it - I don't understand why people would risk that.
If anyone needs to keep a diary - a blank journal works well - though I suppose some would prefer a Word document - you can password protect your file.

As for having more kids when you can't afford them - I don't understand it either but they plenty of company.
I don't see a positive side to being pregoholic unless you enjoy being pregnant so much that you want to be a surrogate.
The best you can do is to learn from their example and not do as they do.
Do what's best for your life and leave them to theirs.

Personally,it makes me feel like phew! I am not the only one with problems. I can't stand the ones who do gofund me pages every month but those are few and far between.