Duke It Out: The Facebook Overshare

August 27, 2010     Posted in Reality

"Spending the day snuggling with my snuggle bunny. Smoochy smooch!"

[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like whether sex sells!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]


By Lauren H

“Jane Doe adores John so much, it’s like fluffy pink bunnies of love are frolicking around inside of her. Wuvs U Baby!” Gag me. Seriously, how many times have you looked on Facebook and seen somebody else getting all schmoopy over their significant other in their status? It’s right up there with Farmville for my top FB pet peeves. My question is, have I become a jaded cynic who can’t appreciate open expression of love, or do other people think these overshares need to be outlawed too?

OK, maybe I’m reacting too strongly – I’ve totally been in that cuddly-baby-animals-feeling phase of relationships and have totally overshared it on Facebook without a second thought. Is it really fair to want to go punch a friend in the face because of the multiple daily updates on how much she misses her BF when he has to go to class? (Sidenote: don’t you wish FB had a “punch” feature similar to the poke? Come on, Mark Z., get on that!) No, probably not. I get why people do it, and it’s their business so I shouldn’t even let it get to me. If I don’t want to see it, just don’t check FB, right (ha! Like that’ll ever happen!). People have the right to put up whatever they want in their statuses and the rest of us should just deal.

Except they’re putting it up online and thus making it my business! I’m not some haggard old spinster bitterly mumbling to myself about cutesy young couples; I’m happy for my friends who are in good relationships, really. I just don’t want to have that schmaltz pop up in my newsfeed 6 times a day! I’m not saying don’t ever put it in your status, but you wouldn’t call your friends up several times a day to tell them how much you love your guy, so why the heck would you make them read about it? I’m just asking for a basic level of courtesy here.

What say you, ladies? Have you been a victim, or are you the guilty party? Are we so over the overshare, or am I freaking out about nothing? Duke it out!

14 Comments on "Duke It Out: The Facebook Overshare"

  1. Lisa says:
    Fri, 27th Aug 20105:35 am 

    It's definitely a no-no. I'm in that stage of my relationship, but if I feel like being all nauseatingly gooey…I text him. Not share it with all of facebook. I think it helps that I am well aware that i would be nauseated with us as a couple if I wasn't in the relationship.

  2. nk says:
    Sun, 29th Aug 20108:08 am 

    i openly laugh at people who do that. I feel that a more private relationship is usually stronger, when you dont have anything to prove to anyone. But thats just me!

  3. Haley says:
    Mon, 30th Aug 20107:58 am 

    I have never done that, and certainly don't plan on it. Some people talk about their snuggle bunny/boyfriend the way other people talk to babies, or their dog. It's just weird and I really want to know how the said boyfriends feel about it.

  4. misnomer says:
    Mon, 30th Aug 20108:15 am 

    I think we're all entitled to be sappy once in awhile, just like we're all allowed to be the hardened cynic from time to time. Once every couple of weeks is ok, every day is not. Of course, you do have the option to remove such offenders from your feed. And when it gets too sappy, then its never ok.

    http://studentswhostillhavesouls.blogspot.com

  5. M says:
    Mon, 30th Aug 20102:57 pm 

    Sometimes its sincere, but I feel like there is a hidden reason why people do it. Maybe the girl is doing it for show that she can be in a caring relationship, or that she's over her ex, etc. I don't know ANY couple that has gone overboard with the fb that is still together.

  6. Mel says:
    Mon, 30th Aug 20104:19 pm 

    I'm still in that phase in the relationship, but I never wanted to be like "those" couples, so we keep the frolicking of bunnies doors-in. I have a friend who is just obnoxious, though. I've "hidden" her status updates. And her boyfriend's too

  7. Grey says:
    Wed, 1st Sep 20108:23 am 

    If you don't want to read that, just hide them from your newsfeed, dumbass.

  8. Beth says:
    Wed, 1st Sep 201011:57 am 

    I hate it too! They are just bragging..it is probably directed at some ex boyfriend/hook up or something. Either that or they are the type who, every time they start dating a new person, their status is "OMG baby, i srsly love you soooo much!!! I can't imagine life without you!!1" and that is after a month of their relationship starting. I have NEVER done anything even close to this. I won't even change my relationship status. I'm not in high school anymore, and that's what doing stupid stuff like that reminds me of. I know I'm with someone, my good friends do, I don't need my hundreds of other fb contacts who I don't particularly care about knowing too.

  9. Rowena says:
    Wed, 1st Sep 20108:16 pm 

    I agree with M. that people like that probably feel like they have something to prove. Or maybe they just had no life. Back in the days before there was the "hide" option on news feed, I had to de-friend this guy because EVERY SINGLE POST was about his girlfriend. It helps I didn't know him that well anyway; I was in high school, he was someone I thought was cool but after reading his Facebook it turned out he wasn't as cool as I had thought.

    Grey, I wouldn't get so angry that she doesn't use the "hide" thing. If someone is your friend and otherwise posts things you'd want to know about, then it makes sense she wouldn't hide them over this but would rather just complain about it.

  10. Shanise M says:
    Sun, 26th Sep 20101:25 pm 

    Your friends are much more tame than mine! I constantly am face to face with "I'm sooooo horny I need someone to come to my dorm NOW" stats EVERY DAY! Seriously people need to realize that these are public sites-anyone can see them (even with privacy settings if the person is really determined) not your personal diary!!

Tell us what you're thinking...