Quote:
Originally Posted by Linn
You know, one of the reasons we moved way out here to North Dakota from my lifetime home in the PNW was because my physical problems made it just too hard to keep up with the "busy life" out there. However, it is really, really quiet out here, and people here don't really like us, because we didn't convert and follow the rural social expectations (I couldn't). They have a habit, here, of isolating people who have physical problems. Anyway, facebook has allowed me to get back in touch with and stay in a genuine kind of daily contact with people who were very important throughout my life. The joy is, we get to share our lives with each other, but I don't have to "go out" to do it. I can be "normal" in that setting. On top of that, I added a load of people I don't know because I played the games for a while. That has been really enriching. They are from every corner of the world, and I screened them based on the info they presented, and their communication with their friends/family that I observe backs up what their info represents about them. This whole facebook experience has been a joy for me, and allowed me to live a very normal life in a very limited situation :-).
As far as privacy goes: There isn't any. I grew up with a lot of people who are now at the top of the tech food chain, and they have explained it to me carefully enough that I get it. I am unreasonably careful with my financial info, but as far as every other bit of personal statistical info, it's all out there, whether or not I want it to be. Cordless phones are also a big security issue, but, oh well. I see my interaction on facebook as a kind of "going out in public (with friends)", and I act accordingly. I don't hide my face, and I converse openly, but my "out in public" boundaries are in place.
Just another POV about facebook. :-)
Linn
|
Hi Lin, I am sorry that your local community chooses to shun you due to their lack of experience in how to be with those who suffer chronic debilitating conditions. I too experience this, even from communities associated with spiritual practices related to yoga.
I am enjoying the connection with others on this forum, who know without resisting the reality, and are able to offer compassionate witnessing, actively seen as normal for each individual within our unique process.
Facebook doesn't do much for me since it usually presents mostly the idealized picture others wish was true about themselves. Rather one dimensional. Whereas in this forum the depth and caring are genuine and profound. The more I open to share the more I receive in return.
Not many places where this happens in my life, since isolation is the main result of chronic, debilitating, long term conditions. Cultural expectations that everyone is entitled to good health and what I refer to as "Health Bigotry" to believe there must be something "wrong" with a person if this does not hold true.
Whether I like it or not this seems to be the prevailing pattern. The only folks who taught me differently were the staff at the stroke rehab place and a school setting with a program for post rehab recovery into every day activities and socialization. Three years there allowed me to transition to take community college courses. Now I take one art class every semester. All I can handle. Credit/no credit and just do what I can and let the instructor know my status from the beginning.
This has allowed me the inclusion into life just enough to have something to relate to others with. I have fun when I can do the work, and most of the time struggle. But it gives me a sense of self esteem being creative, mostly empowering unless I push too much and get symptomatic again.
And here is one more place I can add to my recourse bag to feel like a fully engaged human being. Good news! Thanks for writing TT