Your Journey Blog

Twelve of the Most Annoying Types of Facebook Users

It has been a little over a year since I entered the Facebook world and six months since I become a twitter-er or tweet depending on your perspective.  My 23 year old son thinks me and my generation have ruined Facebook forever.  My 18 year old daughter's favorite comment to me is, "Stop Twittering, Dad!"  Then a twitter friend sent this article out from CNN which I found intriguing and convicting because I have probably annoyed more people than just my family.

So enjoy the article and join me in trying to be a less annoying Facebook user. 

Here are 12 of the most annoying types of Facebook users:

1. The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore."I'm waking up." "I had Wheaties for breakfast." "I'm bored at work." "I'm stuck in traffic." You're kidding! How fascinating! No moment is too mundane for some people to broadcast unsolicited to the world. Just because you have 432 Facebook friends doesn't mean we all want to know when you're waiting for the bus.

2. The Self-Promoter.OK, so we've probably all posted at least once about some achievement. And sure, maybe your friends really do want to read the fascinating article you wrote about beet farming. But when almost EVERY update is a link to your blog, your poetry reading, your 10k results or your art show, you sound like a bragger or a self-centered careerist.

3. The Friend-Padder.The average Facebook user has 120 friends on the site. Schmoozers and social butterflies -- you know, the ones who make lifelong pals on the subway -- might reasonably have 300 or 400. But 1,000 "friends?" Unless you're George Clooney or just won the lottery, no one has that many. That's just showing off.

4. The Town Crier."Michael Jackson is dead!!!" You heard it from me first! Me, and the 213,000 other people who all saw it on TMZ. These Matt Drudge wannabes are the reason many of us learn of breaking news not from TV or news sites but from online social networks. In their rush to trumpet the news, these people also spread rumors, half-truths and innuendo. No, Jeff Goldblum did not plunge to his death from a New Zealand cliff.

5. The TMIer."Brad is heading to Walgreens to buy something for these pesky hemorrhoids." Boundaries of privacy and decorum don't seem to exist for these too-much-information updaters, who unabashedly offer up details about their sex lives, marital troubles and bodily functions. Thanks for sharing.

6. The Bad Grammarian."So sad about Fara Fauset but Im so gladd its friday yippe". Yes, I know the punctuation rules are different in the digital world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.

7. The Sympathy-Baiter. "Barbara is feeling sad today." "Man, am I glad that's over." "Jim could really use some good news about now." Like anglers hunting for fish, these sad sacks cast out their hooks -- baited with vague tales of woe -- in the hopes of landing concerned responses. Genuine bad news is one thing, but these manipulative posts are just pleas for attention.

8. The Lurker.The Peeping Toms of Facebook, these voyeurs are too cautious, or maybe too lazy, to update their status or write on your wall. But once in a while, you'll be talking to them and they'll mention something you posted, so you know they're on your page, hiding in the shadows. It's just a little creepy.

9. The Crank. These curmudgeons, like the trolls who spew hate in blog comments, never met something they couldn't complain about. "Carl isn't really that impressed with idiots who don't realize how idiotic they are." [Actual status update.] Keep spreading the love.

10. The Paparazzo.Ever visit your Facebook page and discover that someone's posted a photo of you from last weekend's party -- a photo you didn't authorize and haven't even seen? You'd really rather not have to explain to your mom why you were leering like a drunken hyena and French-kissing a bottle of Jagermeister.

11. The Maddening Obscurist. "If not now then when?" "You'll see..." "Grist for the mill." "John is, small world." "Dave thought he was immune, but no. No, he is not." [Actual status updates, all.] Sorry, but you're not being mysterious -- just nonsensical.

12. The Chronic Inviter. "Support my cause. Sign my petition. Play Mafia Wars with me. Which 'Star Trek' character are you? Here are the 'Top 5 cars I have personally owned.' Here are '25 Things About Me.' Here's a drink. What drink are you? We're related! I took the 'What President Are You?' quiz and found out I'm Millard Fillmore! What president are you?" HT

Did You Know?

The Times They Are A-Changin'...How will you respond?

In Bob Dylan's classic song The Times They Are A-Changin' he makes a poetic call to embrace change; it is "sink or swim".

Come gather 'round people     
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'. HT

Change is rapidly hitting all sectors of life...economic, political and spiritual. How are you responding to the changes all around you?  And how are you leading your people through the changes facing all of them?

In the Center for Creative Leadership newsletter they offered an insightful article on 4 Ways to Respond to Change.

1. The entrenched. Denial and/or "action frenzy" are the initial responses of people who are entrenched, according to Bunker. They tend to focus on riding out the change, but feel anxious and angry. They blame the organization for messing up what was working. The entrenched avoid taking risks but will continue to work hard.

Leadership Tip - To get through a tough transition, the entrenched need carefully paced learning activities, a safe place to test the new things they are learning, job opportunities that are developmental, and encouragement along with their feedback. Guide, push, but don't throw them into too-big roles too soon.

2. The overwhelmed. Bunker says the first signs that someone is overwhelmed are withdrawal and immobilization. People in this group often report feeling depressed and powerless. Because they are spending most of their energy trying not to think too much about what is happening, they have sincere difficulty learning what is needed to survive in the new environment. Their negative mindset can become infectious and inhibit the learning of others.

Leadership Tip - The overwhelmed need to be developed in place, rather than rushed toward empowerment or a major job change. They need support from superiors and peers who can, in effect, calm the waters.

3. The poser. False bravado is the initial reaction of the poser. People in this group express a high level of confidence about handling any change they encounter and are always eager to move on. "Unfortunately, their competence and self-awareness fail to keep pace with their bravado and self-promotion," says Bunker. "They jockey for positions of influence and recognition, but do not learn well and may lead the organization in the wrong direction."

Leadership Tip - The posers, who overestimate strengths and underestimate weaknesses, need regular, objective and accurate feedback, and they need to focus on development rather than taking action. Be careful not to rely on posers for key roles or to overload teams with posers.

4. The learner. Learners feel challenged and stretched, but in control of their destinies, says Bunker. In most organizations, these individuals tend to be at the center of the action as change unfolds. They look for opportunities in ambiguous and difficult situations and bounce back in the face of adversity. They seek to fill in gaps in their own development and need high-impact developmental assignments. They should also be rewarded and supported for being key players in the transition process.

Leadership Tip - If there is a risk associated with this group, it is the potential for burnout. Leadership may place excessive demands on them. Be sure to provide some relief from the expectation that they fill so many critical roles. HT 

Leading through changing times is tough!  It involves care for those you are leading, courageous decision making and confidence in God's providence.  Joshua was a young leader who faced changing times and  found the courage to lead not in himself but in the providence, promises and presence of God.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.  Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  (Joshua 1:6-9)

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