Five SouthCoast People You Should Keep When Purging Facebook
Tired of your Facebook news-feed being bogged down with nonsense? Yeah...me too.
I can't even tell how many times I've seen over the past few days Facebook statuses that said the following:
"Finally cleansing the Facebook, so like this or comment why I should keep you."
Now, personally, if you're going to go through the trouble of asking people to beg for your friendship, then I just say delete me. #SorryNotSorry
On another note, this also got me thinking about my own Facebook, and who I would value keeping when it comes to being connected with my local community, and this is what I came up with:
1.) The Foodie:
Ironically, this is who I am. However, just because I'm a connoisseur of all things tasty and edible doesn't mean I look out for what everyone else is eating. It's always good to see what specials are going down around the town. Did you happen to hear about the sweet deals on Barrett's Waterfront's menu this week? No? Then perhaps you deleted the wrong people during your "purge." If you're a "Foodie" (someone who always posts and critiques local food and restaurants), chances are you're safe. So, next time you're at a complete loss for what to eat for dinner, maybe you'll respect Jeremy a little more for constantly taking selfies with his street tacos from Frontera Grill.
2.) Mr./Mrs. Nightlife:
Nightlife enthusiasts will always post what bands are playing and where, DJ hot spots and where the hype is happening. If you're someone who enjoys spending your weekends at local clubs/bars, then keep your local promoters within a close following distance. Perhaps Tonic Lounge in Fall River is having a throwback night and you're all about the 80's/90's, or maybe there's a crowded pub crawl in Downtown New Bedford that anyone who's anyone is a part of. No need to delete these people, unless you'd rather stay in with your dog and catch up on the dramatic historical series Downton Abbey while sipping on box wine and munching on Chex Mix. Nothing wrong with that, just not my personal cup of tea.
3.) Moms (and Dads) of your Child's School PTO:
Before you continue reading, if you don't have kids, then these people are no help to your social life (sorry, Auntie Carol). However chances are, if your kids are in the same school as this parent, then you'll be sure to find out if Westport High School has an early dismissal on Friday or that O.R.R. is having a bake sale, and there's no way you're going to miss out on Karen's magic bars this year. Who are the Dartmouth Indians playing this week? I'm sure Daniel knows...his wife runs the concession stand. Yes, there's a very good chance that these people are also going to flood your news feed with photos of their kids and their award-winning pasta salad, but being in the "know" of school events will at least give you the leg up on other parents.
4.) RN's, Doctors, & Pharmacist Technicians:
You wake up in the morning and your child's temperature is running hot, or maybe you had to leave work with excruciating cramps or nausea. Sometimes those friends and family members who work over at St. Luke's or Charlton Memorial may have a simpler answer, instead of waiting hours on end in a packed waiting room--just to be dismissed with a diagnosis of a headache or a hangnail. I trust these people's opinions more than anyone else in a medical emergency. Just do yourself a favor and stay away from the "WebMD diagnoser"...unless, of course, you truly believe that your nosebleed is an early sign of arthritis.
5.) The Gossiper:
We all know that one person who knows EVERYTHING, and you never know how they find out about certain things, but chances are they're correct. Ever wonder why Mardi Gras in Providence opened back up, just to close down again? I honestly wish I knew that answer, but there's always that ONE person with all the answers, and it all spills out with a juicy gossip-based sentence: "Did you hear about so-and-so?!" I have a few of these people in my clique, and it helps me get ahead of the game with great leads that result in a good investigation. After all, how else do you think I found out about China Belle? ;)
As the old saying goes...out with the old and in with the new! Just make sure to keep these "secret weapons" close by to be ahead of your friends and family when it comes to community connections, events, and answers to all personal inquiries.