Back in 2008, Thomas Jast wrote an article called “Facebook is the End of Humanity.”

At the time, the two of us were writing for a tongue-in-cheek commentary site called Tommy|Zor and that particular post became one of the pillars on the site. I still have it archived and might bust it out on here one day (with his permission of course) because even though the platform has evolved, the angst against it was timeless.

I’ve gone through a few bouts of quitting and logging back in. Early on, it was nothing more than a distraction that served as a stalking platform with an easy interface (consider its creator’s initial purpose for it – meeting women). Since people were treating it more like a dating site than a networking site (and in many cases, they still do), I left.

Then people began organizing events, sharing pictures and using it as the space to keep in touch. I was out of the loop for local events (*ahem* parties) and family announcements. Hence, I returned and go through bouts of not using it and checking in a few times a day.

The platform has certainly evolved over the past ten years, making it more addictive and easy for people to share just about everything. However, it’s been breaking my cardinal rule of the Internet which is to never read the comments.

I’ll admit to being guilty of adding a few when I just couldn’t resist because, after all, I like to write.

People feel passionate about many events, ideas, political positions, religious ideals, etc. and most of them find their communities somewhere. The best of the people in the groups can engage in dialogue with other, carrying interesting conversations that are intended to challenge ways of thinking.

But that’s not what we’re getting.

There’s no conversation – just validation or argument.

Facebook has turned into that giant family get together with that one drunk uncle you politely ignore and hope he gets the hint to just go away. Of course he doesn’t and you wonder why you ever showed up in the first place. Worse, he’s found other family members and friends he’s invited who are equally as ranting drunk.

In-between birth announcements (yay!) and MLM selfies (groan) is an angry back and forth that started as a comment about a restaurant and has devolved into the practice of tipping… which then spirals into economics and government policy (and by that, I mean incessant “he/she’s an idiot!” comments about whatever leader).

There’s no point in trying to jump in the conversation either – especially with any logical ideas. It’s the equivalent of trying to calmly explain something to that drunk uncle. You think he’s going to listen?

No. He’s going to yell and interrupt you because his confidence is at an all time high, convincing him that he knows best.

For any perceived benefits Facebook may offer (sometimes my friends do post some cool stuff), it doesn’t balance itself against the onslaught of garbage.

It has compacted what we like and find annoying about the entire Internet into one site.

It has psychologically profiled us to stay addicted for five more seconds without offering anything of value other than a dopamine hit at the anticipation that something good might show up if we keep scrolling.

What impresses me, however, is I never expected it to last this long. 14 years is a long-time to still be relevant online.

However, I’ve hit my end.

I will politely thank whoever hosted dinner this time around, grab my shoes and make my way home.