What Do Your Status Updates Say About You?
Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” I wonder if we can tweak that a bit to say, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the status is updated.”
You can learn a lot about a person from their Facebook updates. Because of the succinct nature of the “update culture,” people get to the point much quicker. They reveal their soul without even realizing it.
If someone incessantly updates their status throughout the day, they desperately want someone to pay attention to them.
If someone constantly shares about all the cool things they’re doing and how much fun they’re having, they’re most likely miserable.
If someone repeatedly mentions a significant other (or God/Jesus) in their updates, they are insecure about that relationship.
I know because I’ve been in all of these camps at one point or another.
What do your status updates say about you?
My updates are usually filled with pithy rants about our gov't or great things I've come across on the web or current events…stuff like that. I did realize a little while ago that I should be posting more positive things to my status updates, rather than just complaining and stuff, but I try to make it a bit humorous so I don't come across so grumpy all the time.
They probably say that I talk about myself a lot.
I'm somewhat dumbfounded by your last statement. I would agree with it when it comes to chain comments/statuses. Such as “Post this if you're a Christian,” but do you honestly think that someone who posts about God a lot is insecure about it? Isn't a blog to some degree an extended status of thought?
I think for some people, their security in that relationship is why they post about it. For instance, I used an app of Facebook the other day that told me my most common words in my status updates and “God” was #1. Most of my statuses involve either personal revelation or a challenge to others about God. I'm not trying to make an arrogant claim saying I am always fully secure in my relationship with God, it would be naive to do so. But to make the claim that someone who posts often about God is insecure, would seem a bit rash and flippant. Even simply making the addendum “they are likely…” would have been more appropriate. I suppose this will fall under your last week's category of “Someone Disagree With Me…”
I think those are huge generalities that may have been true to you, but aren't always the case. Like, I post multiple times a day because I am bored at work and facebook is my only outlet. Too bad you automatically see me as desperate for attention.
I mention the fun things I do so my friends and family can stay up-to-date on what is going on in my world and give us things to talk about the next time we are together. I'm completely thrilled with my life and feel no amount of miserable.
I mention God a lot because he is the single most important thing in my world. And I'd like to think my updates that mention Him help my friends, as well as me, remain close to Him and in the Word. So much for grace.
I'm sorry you went through times when that wasn't the case for you, and I am thrilled God brought you through it. Maybe now you can work on refraining from passing your judgement on my state of mind.
I'm sorry everyone took so much offense to this. I actually completely agree; when I'm doing any of these three things, I'll admit that your conclusions are absolutely right. I see the conclusions hold true with close friends' statuses as well.
Hilarious.
“Even simply making the addendum “they are likely…” would have been more appropriate.”
-That's what I did with “repeatedly” …. Perhaps a different modifier would have clarified?
I suppose this will fall under your last week's category of “Someone Disagree With Me…”
-Bingo
…….
Let me ask, had you not done the “status update” app and found God to be your #1 word, do you suppose you would have had the same reaction?
They aren't always the case, but in my experience, they are most usually the case.
As G.K. Chesterton famously put it, “Everything I need to know about human nature I learned from myself.”
I would like to think I would. I feel it's a “yeast” thing, as in being a Christian permeates everything you do. I don't feel there is anything in my life that God is not a part of, whether that is writing, or sports, or friendships. It only makes sense that I would bring it up in conversation and my updates often.
My updates are usually filled with pithy rants about our gov't or great things I've come across on the web or current events…stuff like that. I did realize a little while ago that I should be posting more positive things to my status updates, rather than just complaining and stuff, but I try to make it a bit humorous so I don't come across so grumpy all the time.
They probably say that I talk about myself a lot.
I'm somewhat dumbfounded by your last statement. I would agree with it when it comes to chain comments/statuses. Such as “Post this if you're a Christian,” but do you honestly think that someone who posts about God a lot is insecure about it? Isn't a blog to some degree an extended status of thought?
I think for some people, their security in that relationship is why they post about it. For instance, I used an app of Facebook the other day that told me my most common words in my status updates and “God” was #1. Most of my statuses involve either personal revelation or a challenge to others about God. I'm not trying to make an arrogant claim saying I am always fully secure in my relationship with God, it would be naive to do so. But to make the claim that someone who posts often about God is insecure, would seem a bit rash and flippant. Even simply making the addendum “they are likely…” would have been more appropriate. I suppose this will fall under your last week's category of “Someone Disagree With Me…”
I think those are huge generalities that may have been true to you, but aren't always the case. Like, I post multiple times a day because I am bored at work and facebook is my only outlet. Too bad you automatically see me as desperate for attention.
I mention the fun things I do so my friends and family can stay up-to-date on what is going on in my world and give us things to talk about the next time we are together. I'm completely thrilled with my life and feel no amount of miserable.
I mention God a lot because he is the single most important thing in my world. And I'd like to think my updates that mention Him help my friends, as well as me, remain close to Him and in the Word. So much for grace.
I'm sorry you went through times when that wasn't the case for you, and I am thrilled God brought you through it. Maybe now you can work on refraining from passing your judgement on my state of mind.
I'm sorry everyone took so much offense to this. I actually completely agree; when I'm doing any of these three things, I'll admit that your conclusions are absolutely right. I see the conclusions hold true with close friends' statuses as well.
Hilarious.
“Even simply making the addendum “they are likely…” would have been more appropriate.”
-That's what I did with “repeatedly” …. Perhaps a different modifier would have clarified?
I suppose this will fall under your last week's category of “Someone Disagree With Me…”
-Bingo
…….
Let me ask, had you not done the “status update” app and found God to be your #1 word, do you suppose you would have had the same reaction?
They aren't always the case, but in my experience, they are most usually the case.
As G.K. Chesterton famously put it, “Everything I need to know about human nature I learned from myself.”
I would like to think I would. I feel it's a “yeast” thing, as in being a Christian permeates everything you do. I don't feel there is anything in my life that God is not a part of, whether that is writing, or sports, or friendships. It only makes sense that I would bring it up in conversation and my updates often.
I write about Jesus and God constantly because He loves me more deeply than I could ever imagine, and I am growing in His love. I live for Christ.