Large Fierce Mammal

“So, why do Mrs. LFM and I still have Facebook accounts at all? First off, we actually like, or at least receive some level of uplifting benefit from knowing, the people we connect with there. There are people in our lives right now that we have never met, and are overjoyed to know, first of all because of the internet, but for some of them, the use of Facebook facilitates keeping those lines of communication open. For the most part, our reasons are based on what has been a steady process to simplify our life by eliminating anything that has a net benefit value of zero or less. This means that, for each of us, there are aspects of Facebook that match that definition by being intrusive or otherwise negative while, compartmentalized as it is, we can cherry pick the parts of Facebook that we find to be useful tools in the fulfillment of our own agendas.” ~ Facebook: Rules of Engagement (15 April 2012)

I am leaving Facebook.

As of today, my inventory of Facebook “friends” stands at 231, which is neither representative of a lack of popularity, nor is it an accident. Since I first opened my personal Facebook account in 2007, I have ruthlessly applied the ROE quoted above in the prosecution of no less than three pogroms aimed at “… eliminating anything that has a net benefit value of zero or less ….”, and can state without reservation that all who remain today are there either because we also have friendly, or at least civil, relations with them outside the Facebook universe, they fit the definition of, “… people in our lives right now that we have never met, and are overjoyed to know …”, or because we like to, “… cherry pick the parts of Facebook that we find to be useful tools in the fulfillment of our own agendas.” I will leave all 231 of those worthies and notables to discern, based on their experience with me, whether they fit into the “overjoyed to know” or “useful tools” category.

As my Life has evolved since 2007, I have found my attentions best serve what lies in the foreground through thoughtful elimination of noise from the background. This is not to say, or even imply, that people I have routinely interacted with on Facebook have been regarded as background noise. It was their presence and opinions that delayed the inevitable as long as it has.

Going forward, anyone I have connections with outside the Facebook podium already know how to get in touch with me, as I do them, and anyone else who misses me can easily send me an email through my LFM Contact page. The LFM Facebook page will still exist, and updates there will be the province of Mrs. LFM who is maintaining her Facebook presence. The ability to comment on articles here through Facebook will shortly be curtailed in favour of actually commenting on this site after reading the article, the old fashioned way.

So Adieu Ye Booke of Faces. To quote Tank Girl, “It’s been swell, but the swelling’s gone down.” Now I’m off to romance my exquisite Mate, raise three boys to Men, bask in the glories of Life with Dogs, and oh yeah, tend to the debt I owe to my Goode Readers by revealing a lot more LFM, both here and by way of three books I’ve been promising for far too long.

Here’s The D-Day Darlings to sing us out.