You may or may not have heard by now that Facebook has announced a new Facebook Messages system that integrates e-mail, IM and texting in one inbox. It’s supposed to roll out in the next few months to all FB users.  Not sure how I’m feeling about it yet, but check it out and see for yourself! Gotta say, the writing backwards on the glass thing is kinda cool!

If you’re one of the lucky people who happens to be a beta tester, I would love to know what you think!  Are the rest of you feeling the changes at FB, or do you think they need to leave things as they are?  Leave me a comment!

(Picture from The Ramiro & Pebbles Boat Cruise)

It was a big deal for me when I made this my profile picture on Facebook.  I’m one of those people who has a hard time putting their faults out there for the world to see.  People are very judgemental and can be vicious.  I was never willing to hold myself up to that type of scrutiny.  But then I took a good look at that picture and laughed.  And I knew that if anyone else saw it they would laugh too, so why not put it out there.  And you know what…people laughed!

I bring this up because a little while ago, I updated my FB status and I swear I must have hit refresh about 5 times in 5 minutes to see what people had to say about what I wrote!  After the 5th time hitting refresh, I sat back and thought “Why do you care so much about what other people have to say?”  It stopped me dead in my tracks and made me realize that to a certain extent, we all may be looking for self-esteem in other people through Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and other forms of social networking. 

I know it’s easy to say, “No, that’s not me.  I don’t care what people think about me!”  But think about this…How many times do YOU hit refresh after posting a status update? How many times to you check out your @replies on Twitter?  And how much thought do you put into the pictures you post online?  My guess is, a lot.  And believe me, I’m just as guilty as you are.  Remember, I’m the one who brought it up! 

Now that I’m aware of this, I’m going to make an effort to stop editing myself so much.  If I like a picture of myself, I’m going to post it and not care what other people think!  This picture was another one that I hesitated about putting up, but I love it because I laugh a lot, with my mouth wide open, and so what?

Oh, and if someone happens to make a comment about one of my pictures or updates that I don’t like, oh well.  I’m going to learn to not care so much what other people think, and care more about what I think!  

What about you?  Do you worry about the comments that people write about you?  Do you make sure you only post the most perfect pictures of yourself?  Does what you read about yourself on FB, Twitter, etc. make a difference in the way you feel about yourself?   Let me know by leaving a comment.

Just my humble opinion…Pebbles!

Facebook…”helps you share and connect with the people in your life.”  No doubt that is true.  I have connected with family, old friends, former classmates, and lots of other people I would otherwise never be in touch with.  Unfortunately, with the many positives of Facebook, come the annoying and often negative aspects of Facebook. I’m sure you have your own, but here are my…

14 Facebook Pet Peeves

1. TMI (Too Much Information) No one needs to hear about your bathroom habits, female problems, or details of your sex life.  Unless it’s really, really funny…and then it’s ok!

2.  People who “like” negative status updates So you “like” that I just had the worst day of my life at work today???  I think I may have to un-friend you.

3.  Couple Fights Bashing your man or woman on FB because you’re pissed at them only makes YOU look crazy!  And when you’re bashing each other on FB?  Spare the rest of us and just break up!

4.   “So in Love” Updates This is almost as bad at people who fight on FB.  If all of your updates are about how in love you are, who are you trying to convince, us or yourself?  We get it, you’re in love!

5.   Body Shots People who post half-naked pictures of themselves in certain poses are only fishing for compliments.  You know the difference between “I have my shirt off hanging with my friends at the beach,”  and “Look at me, I’ve been working out!”  You look like a douche!

6.   No Profile Picture It doesn’t really matter if it’s not a picture of you, just have a profile pic!  This  is just annoying!

7.   Duck Face/Kissy Face Ladies, this is NOT cute!  There is no woman who looks better doing this than just smiling.  Seriously, it only makes you look a little slutty.  You don’t want that do you?  Or do you?  And guys who do this…I have no words.

8.   Liking Your Own Status/Photo If you posted a status or a photo, you obviously like it.  No need to “like” it again!

9.  The Positive People I think it’s great when people post inspirational quotes and positive messages, but if that’s the ONLY thing you post, you come off as fake.  NO ONE is that positive all the time!

10.  The Hustlers You know who I’m talking about.  People who are SO busy ALL the time!  Yeah, you’re “on the grind” we get it.  In the words of Christian Bale…Oh, good for you!

11.  Avoiders Nothing is worse than people who won’t confront you about an issue they have with you in person, but will attack you on FB.  Really?  I just SAW you!

12.  Changing Relationship Status Too Much Please don’t change your relationship status until you actually make a decision.  Going from “in a relationship” to “single” to “it’s complicated” every time you get in a fight is ridiculous!  And is it ever really complicated?  You’re either with someone or you’re not.

13.  Tagging Me in Photos I’m Not In Just stop!  Enough said.

14.  Fighting Under Someone Else’s Status There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy discourse between friends.  But when it turns into a full-blown fight, it’s just wrong.  Take it to your own page!

Ahhhh, I feel so much better.   Guess I needed to get that off my chest!   So there are my 14 Facebook Pet Peeves.  Want to add a 15th?  I would love to hear it, so please leave me a comment below! What’s YOUR FB Pet Peeve?

Just my humble opinion,

Pebbles