Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

When you hit the “send” button, it’s on. On Facebook and traceable forever. That photo you posted will be in internet cyberspace long after you are gone. You “sent” it into eternity.

Everything anyone posts on social media has the potential of coming back and causing trouble. A simple “screenshot” will capture an image of a post forever. Once you hit send, it’s written in cement. If you have a few cocktails before “going on Facebook” then the potential for “drunk posting” rears its ugly head.

When you hit “send” it’s unerasable. It’s there for anyone who wants to see it, including exes, bosses, nuts, psychopaths, estranged family members, and the authorities. The computer is not a good place to be when you are upset or buzzed. It’s just too easy to flip out.

You’re on a sensitive emotional subject and as your mind starts spewing a rant your fingers are trying to keep up. Then it’s done. You officially freaked out in succinct, anger fueled sentences, heavy on the punctuation for all the universe to see, forever.

Actually, your desktop, laptop, pad or cell phone should be the last place you go when your blood is boiling. For me, that’s the first place I head for, and it’s dangerous. It’s way too easy to get in trouble.

Many of us are glued to social media. It’s an obsession, an addiction and … fun. But we all know that fun can get out of hand. I’ve gotten in trouble for things I posted on Farcebook. If I was a lobster, I’d have been shriveled up from all the hot water I’ve gotten into on social media, a shell of my former self.

The fingers that we type with are the very fingers that can start wars. There’s one particular dope that I have to restrain myself from commenting on, and it’s really difficult because I have so much to say about this … person. Words that will get me into another skirmish. But alas, I’m trying not to cause media mayhem. I’m trying to take the highroad, as difficult as it is for me.

Yes, we all get hurt, we all get mad, and we all want to say things to certain people that tick us off. But just remember that once you hit that send button you’ve basically sealed your fate. You, and no one else. So the advice I’m giving you is none. Because I suffer from this very affliction.

It’s so hard for me to keep my mouth shut and my fingers quiet, even though I have issues that eat me up. We all do. Some of my Facebook friends post very personal things. Some of my Facebook friends post angry things most of the time. Lots of my Facebook friends post pictures of furry pets all the time. I love those. Whatever it is that’s posted will be there for the rest of eternity. Words start wars. Words hurt. Disturbing words seem to flow like an uncontrollable leaky faucet even when you feel justified.

I’ve blocked over 200 people from my Facebook page because my level of tolerance is dangerously low. Seems I’ve become quite cranky in my old age! (P.S. You damn kids better keep off my lawn! I have a cane and I’m not afraid to use it!)

I’ve read some of my own stupid posts on Fakebook and I’ve read a lot of other peoples’ dumb remarks too. Hopefully, my stupid comments will not get me in trouble as I’m trying to filter my remarks. I’ve never been in “Facebook prison” like some of my friends. That’s where they take you off Facebook for a while for posting offensive material but I have put myself on a personal break. Fingers can get us in trouble with weapons, in traffic, and on electronic devices.

So, before you hit enter or send after an angry mental explosion, count to ten, then don’t send it … even if you feel your comments are justified. Because it WILL come back and bite you right in the behind. Your stupid remarks will live a lot longer than you and me. Final warning: Facebook does, and will fuel family and personal turmoil. Will I avoid the temptation? All I can do is try. I’m on Flakebook as we speak.