Did it really happen or not?
I was sitting quietly in our living room early Thursday morning when there was suddenly a hard jolt that shook my chair. It was another earthquake which is very common in Southern California.
Cindy had slept in and was not out of bed at the time. When she got up I asked, Did you feel the earthquake about ten minutes ago?, She said that she didn't and asked me to describe it. I felt like one of those random folks they interview after a tornado wipes out a trailer park, you know the one who attempts to describe the sound, and all the details while not using any of the correct words or noises that would make him properly understood. Well folks that was how my description went.
Anyways a little while later she says to me, Jimmy I think you imagined that whole earthquake thing, I had to ask, Why do you think I imagined it, heck I felt it shake the house, she replied, Because I can't find anything about it on Facebook. I asked her, So you are saying if it's not on Facebook then it's not real?, she grinned at me and said, You got it, if it ain't on Facebook then it didn't happen. OK what if it's on the morning news, did it happen then? she seriously then told me, Only if it's on Facebook, otherwise the news is fake.
Oh man we have fake news unless it's on Facebook! I don't agree with much that goes across social media, I guess that is why my Facebook account rarely gets updated, and I also rarely pay attention to the news. We have gotten to the point to where everything is on Social Media, it seems everyone has Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, Snap this, Snap that, I really don't know what is out there, or how to use any of them.
A lot of us depend on social media for our day to day information gathering, Cindy uses Facebook mainly to keep up with the kids, but the number of friends she has is something else, and yes she keeps up with a lot of them too, like I said I don't really use Facebook, I don't check the news feed to see who posted what there, but I do check my Blogger Reading List to see which of my friends have posted here.
I have like thirty three friends on my list of followers, less than that who comment regularly and whose blogs I visit and comment on, Cindy has a whole network of people she communicates with on Facebook, she looks like an air traffic controller when she is answering her messages, reading her friends updates, sending her own updates, playing her game, liking this, liking that, texting here, answering her phone, and doing it all at the same time...
I'll stick with blogging, it's much more relaxing and contrary to popular belief, a heck of a lot more real than Facebook will ever be in my opinion, besides I don't want to handle that many things at one time.
I wouldn't be able to juggle messages and read posts all synchronized and professional like Cindy does, heck I get confused if I'm reading one of your blog posts and a message pops up, I can't answer the message until I finish reading and I can't finish reading until I check the message, let's just say I'm no longer good at multitasking.
And for an update; On Thursday night for kicks I checked on Earthquake Track to see the recent earthquake activity in our area, I found an entry for a 3.1 magnitude earthquake at Cabazon, California at the exact time I told Cindy that I had felt a jolt, that is like fifteen miles from here. I showed it to her, she just said, Hmm I wonder how they missed that on Facebook?
This was literally some earth shaking news and you are telling me that nobody posted it on Facebook? Just goes to show that there are real things in life outside of Facebook.
I was sitting quietly in our living room early Thursday morning when there was suddenly a hard jolt that shook my chair. It was another earthquake which is very common in Southern California.
Cindy had slept in and was not out of bed at the time. When she got up I asked, Did you feel the earthquake about ten minutes ago?, She said that she didn't and asked me to describe it. I felt like one of those random folks they interview after a tornado wipes out a trailer park, you know the one who attempts to describe the sound, and all the details while not using any of the correct words or noises that would make him properly understood. Well folks that was how my description went.
Anyways a little while later she says to me, Jimmy I think you imagined that whole earthquake thing, I had to ask, Why do you think I imagined it, heck I felt it shake the house, she replied, Because I can't find anything about it on Facebook. I asked her, So you are saying if it's not on Facebook then it's not real?, she grinned at me and said, You got it, if it ain't on Facebook then it didn't happen. OK what if it's on the morning news, did it happen then? she seriously then told me, Only if it's on Facebook, otherwise the news is fake.
Oh man we have fake news unless it's on Facebook! I don't agree with much that goes across social media, I guess that is why my Facebook account rarely gets updated, and I also rarely pay attention to the news. We have gotten to the point to where everything is on Social Media, it seems everyone has Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, Snap this, Snap that, I really don't know what is out there, or how to use any of them.
A lot of us depend on social media for our day to day information gathering, Cindy uses Facebook mainly to keep up with the kids, but the number of friends she has is something else, and yes she keeps up with a lot of them too, like I said I don't really use Facebook, I don't check the news feed to see who posted what there, but I do check my Blogger Reading List to see which of my friends have posted here.
I have like thirty three friends on my list of followers, less than that who comment regularly and whose blogs I visit and comment on, Cindy has a whole network of people she communicates with on Facebook, she looks like an air traffic controller when she is answering her messages, reading her friends updates, sending her own updates, playing her game, liking this, liking that, texting here, answering her phone, and doing it all at the same time...
I'll stick with blogging, it's much more relaxing and contrary to popular belief, a heck of a lot more real than Facebook will ever be in my opinion, besides I don't want to handle that many things at one time.
I wouldn't be able to juggle messages and read posts all synchronized and professional like Cindy does, heck I get confused if I'm reading one of your blog posts and a message pops up, I can't answer the message until I finish reading and I can't finish reading until I check the message, let's just say I'm no longer good at multitasking.
 |
| Earthquake Warning (Source) |
This was literally some earth shaking news and you are telling me that nobody posted it on Facebook? Just goes to show that there are real things in life outside of Facebook.
Farcebook we call it here lol. I like blogger. People are more real when they don't confine themselves to a brief message and a photo. We tend to lay ourselves out there warts and all. I too am very happy with my little circle of friends. I appreciate each and every one of you.
ReplyDeleteHey Delores, Warts and all that's how it is here, I love our circle of friends, I have gained some who I feel have been here forever and others who have been here forever but no longer comment but all in all every one of you are genuine, and I appreciate that.
DeleteFarcebook, I like that ha ha, what is sad about that is it feels more to me as a numbers game than actually getting to know one another like we do here.
I've never felt an earthquake, every tiny one here misses me for some reason
ReplyDeleteHey Adam, I never had either until we moved here, growing up in South Carolina I don't ever remember one there.
DeleteI love your earthquake story. I'm glad it wasn't the kind to cause a lot of damage. Facebook would be the last place I'd trust for information, but it is interesting the sources that get re-posted by friends and family. And Tweeter! No way could I express myself in 140 characters or less. I love the Bloggers community. We really get to know each other here.
ReplyDeleteHi Jean, Evidently this one was so small that it didn't warrant being mentioned on Facebook, it was a pretty good jolt though but that was all, no damage whatsoever that I have heard of.
DeleteThe stuff that gets reposted on Facebook that is absolutely false is what gets to me, I think you could post anything off the top of your head and make it sound serious, and next thing you know its all over the place.
I have an account there but really like what we have here the best.
I experienced many earthquakes growing up in California but not many here in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephen, I was wondering if the earthquakes were as common in Oregon compared to California.
DeleteI guess you showed HER!
ReplyDeleteI'm always thinking I FEEL and earthquake, but then there's nothing in the news about it. Last one here was 18 days ago, a 2.3, I think. Thanks for that Earthquake Track link! Now I can see if The Pony has been tossed out of bed in Oklahoma by an earthquake. He's only on the 3rd floor now, not the 12th, so maybe that fracking won't sway his building so much!
Hey Val, You know how it is "I showed her"...yep I showed her the article but that's about all ha ha.
DeleteI like sites like the Earthquake Track because if you do feel one you can check to see where it was centered, keeping track of the area around Pony should be easy enough, may have to get him off the third floor and find him a single story place...
I love your blog, your writing skills, and most of all your sense of humor. And I so agree with your take on blogging vs. FB.
ReplyDeleteHello Inger, It is so good to see you my friend, Thank you for your compliments I am happy to have you as part of our little group.
DeleteI've never felt an earthquake, even though people around me said, "Did you feel that?"
ReplyDeleteI feel cheated!!!
As long as you don't feel it then they aren't too bad... those are the kind you want :)
DeleteNever experienced an earthquake ... and yes they do happen in certain parts of the UK.
ReplyDeleteGlad it wasn't worse for you though.
All the best Jan
Hi Jan, We just had one strong jolt, but not hard enough to be a problem.
DeleteI noticed that there are many little earthquakes in your area. Nerve racking for me as my youngest is out there. I have only been in one earthquake, it was in Montana in '59 I believe and the streets were kind of rippling.
ReplyDeleteFacebook, I look and occasionally give a thumbs up ...
Hello Sharon, There are a lot of little earthquakes here all the time as your youngest can tell you, they are mainly little tremors or a jolt that makes you think something hit the house, but no big thing so far since we have lived here.
DeleteI imagine seeing the streets rippling was quite a big deal, that would be scary for sure.
I don't play FB. Or twitter. Or Instagram.
ReplyDeleteBlogger has been a blessing though. I have made (and cherish) friends all over the world.
Hello EC, Isn't it amazing the friends we have here and the different places that we all live, this many different cultures and we all basically have the same mindset, I love it and like you wouldn't trade it for any of the other outlets.
DeleteWow! That had to be really scary, and I can imagine I would have been trying to figure out what happened. I probably stay on social media more than I should, but I also do a ton of research, but everyone is different, and that's cool. Then of course, I really love blogging and meeting new friends on blogger and wordpress. I'm learning so much, and laughing at many fun stories I hear. That interaction with you and others always makes my day. Hugs...
ReplyDeleteHey RO, It is something how you can use social media to accomplish good things like you do, I have no problem with that, and I give Cindy a hard time but most of her actual news does come from legitimate news sources she is linked with.
DeleteThe real problem with social media in my opinion is the nonsense that is passed on as real news stories.
"I'm learning so much, and laughing at many fun stories I hear." This is an excellent statement because the things we share an laugh at are both entertaining and educational in many ways, we have a great group of people here and I am proud that you are part of our group.
It's on Facebook or it didn't happen? That's just plain ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteWe almost never get earthquakes here in Adelaide, so when I felt one several years ago I was surprised to recognise it immediately for what it was. I'd just gotten into bed one night when the entire house vibrated, it sort of shimmied from one end to the other in less than a second and it was gone. On another occasion it was a thump like you'd heard and felt and I thought a big truck must have run into something close by, but on the news the next morning I heard it had been a minor quake. So, two quakes in my lifetime.
Hello River, It is amazing the information that shows up on Facebook but I don't have time to weed out the real from the fake stuff, there is a lot of real stuff that happens in real life that Facebook completely misses.
DeleteYou describing the one earthquake as like a truck running into something nearby is exactly what I felt Thursday morning, we don't feel them everyday but there are more happening here that I am really comfortable with.
Well, Jimmy, I am pleased you prefer blogging, which means we get to read your tales and posts. You can express yourself on a blog much better than on FB. I gave up on FB when people I knew started to get silly, or swear a lot, or reveal too much. To the horror of Joe and his daughter in Australia I gave up and refused further contact except by personal appearance or phone. Give me blogging every time. By the way I have never felt an earthquake... I'm thinking they're scary.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Valerie, The swearing is just one of the major problems with some of the people who post there, that is not OK and like you I want no part of it either.
DeleteBlogging is just more comfortable to me, we can get silly and laugh at one another but we are never disrespectful, that means a lot to me. And good friends like you who came back after I had to step away for awhile make this all worth it.
Thank you my dear friend.
I didn't even realize that Facebook was big on news. I guess she is used to checking her stories there so it makes sense. But I would stick to blogging anytime like you said. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteShe is linked to several news sources along with her friends, this is where she goes first for news of the day, I watch the morning news on tv. Like you I will stick with Blogging, Good to see you my friend.
DeleteThis is so funny because YES, plenty of people get their news on FB. Myself, I prefer to see what's going on in the world via Twitter. I'm not joking!
ReplyDeleteThe biggest earthquakes here were in the 80's. One was when I was driving on the highway and one happened when I was out of state, so I missed them both.
Hey Bijoux, To be honest with you I know nothing about Twitter but a lot of people are using it, from my understanding you are limited to a certain number of words, I'd be in trouble with that because I have to cut my posts here back most times ha ha.
DeleteTo feel an earthquake while driving it would have to be really major so with that said I am glad you missed that one.
I was born & raised in California & have lived here all my 82 years so, YES, I have felt earthquakes. They don't scare me, though!!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Fran, Being born and raised in California like you and Cindy, you girls get to where they are so common you don't notice them, but throw a Carolina boy into the mix and watch him look around and say "did you feel that?" ;)
DeleteI am always impressed how Californians take earthquakes so calmly. Guess you can get used to anything. Never felt one though I am not far from the Madrid Fault line so if I ever do, it will probably be a doozie.
ReplyDeleteI've seen too many fake news stories on face book but I have family members to take it as gospel.
Hey Patti, You are right that anyone raised here doesn't think a thing about these little earthquakes, I suppose if we had been around them since birth we wouldn't either.
DeleteWell heres hoping the Madrid Fault line continues to behave itself, I would sure hate for your first one to be a doozie.
A lot of people take anything they see online as gospel, the stories online and Facebook are only as reliable as the original story posted, they do seem to change as they get reposted at times ;)
I have facebook but blogging is better! I witnessed an earthquake here once. It was crazy. Of course I immediately jumped on facebook to share the news and it seemed everyone beat me to it. I believe you but Cindy is right too!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Hey Lisa, I was afraid you were going to say that ha ha, you girls do seem to stick together. I'll have to agree she is right but when she said that she didn't believe me because it wasn't on Facebook you know I had to run with it ;)
DeleteThe first one I witnessed after we moved here, I was looking around asking questions and everyone else acted like nothing had happened, it was really strange to me.
I never use Facebook for the same reason. It's just too much to handle. I like blogging much more.
ReplyDeleteHello John, You are right, it is too much to handle for me also, there are a lot of people there I guess which adds to the problem in a sense.
DeleteGotta love Facebook! I tend to take whatever is posted on there with a grain of salt. I'm sure the reason someone didn't post about it was because it wouldn't start a controversy which is what most people want.
ReplyDeleteHey Jen, "I'm sure the reason someone didn't post about it was because it wouldn't start a controversy which is what most people want." Very good point and you are so right, I know a lot of people absolutely love Facebook and use it properly, people like you, RO, and my wife to name a few, and then you have a whole lot who love the controversial subjects and if there is not one they make one up ha ha.
DeleteYou have to take it with a grain of salt to enjoy it, and I'm happy you ladies love it.
Good to see you Jen.
When we lived in Southern California, if I felt what I thought was a quake I would jot down the time and then see if it was mentioned on the news or not. Didn't rely on the "accuracy" of Facebook. I mainly do Facebook for keeping up with family and friends we've moved away from. I think I might have a total of 40 friends on it? I'm not sure. Then I go through periods of time when I delete people I might not be in contact with anymore, etc. It can be time consuming. You get on it and then look at the clock and realize you've been on it for 30 or more minutes.
ReplyDeletebetty
Hi Betty, I know there are even some that don't raise enough attention to be mentioned on the news, sites like Earthquake Track at least mention the majority of them anyways.
DeleteYou are right Facebook can suck you in and use up a lot of your time before you realize it.
I think of facebook as "lazy blogging" on its best day. Usually, it's just links to fake news and clickbait.
ReplyDeleteI know you're too deep to stop there, so I commend you for checking on earthquake activity. Glad it was just a minor jolt that no one believes you about ;)
Hey Abby, That is a good description of Facebook, and you are so right the majority of the links are basically useless in my opinion.
DeleteYes a minor jolt is all I want anyways ha ha
I don't do Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snap Chat. I don't have much time to blog at the moment either, but I do love it. Occasionally I'll look at my daughter's facebook pages, and then wonder why I did. I don't really understand the appeal.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you Joey, it seems less appealing every time I look at it.
Delete