I just want to be treated fairly. Aren't we all created equal? Is it right that a segment of society should suffer ostracism--even abuse--simply because we aren't part of the majority? Should we not all have the same opportunities for success--the same right to pursue happiness--here in America?
I do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as others because of a new and ugly form of bigotry: Facism, which is not to be confused with Fascism. Let me explain. This evening, I checked my e-mail and found an ad from Orbitz announcing that I could win a trip to London. I eagerly opened the e-mail and scanned the page to find out how I could enter. I would like the chance to win a trip to London. But when I found the information for entering the contest, I saw that I would have to enter through Facebook. I don't have a Facebook. I am a victim of social media, refused the opportunity to enter a contest simply because I don't participate in Facebook.
So now those of us who are victims of Facism are refused the opportunity to enter contests. We also aren't privy to invitations to events when a universal invitation is extended on Facebook, and yet we're still expected to be in attendance. It seems unreasonable--yes, prejudicial--to expect those of us who are not on Facebook to show up for your open house/wedding reception/Pampered Chef party/birthday when we do not know that it is happening. Expecting non-Facebookers to know about and support your social events when they aren't even aware of them is definitely facist.
Even families are turning on their members who don't engage in social media. When my husband recently learned that a cousin had bought a campground in a distant state and had moved away months ago, he was told, "Get on Facebook." So now we can't even be a part of our families if we aren't on Facebook?
So what is next for those of us who have opted not to splay our lives for the world to see on Facebook? For those of us who don't have twenty-five pictures of our most recent vacation posted? For those of us who don't have time to report the minor, insignificant details of our lives to the rest of the world? Perhaps we'll be banned to live in our own physical communities, where people communicate by letters, telephone, and--gasp!--talking. When someone has surgery, has a baby, dies, gets married, or just wants to get together for an evening, we'll be forced to pick up the phone or send out paper announcements and invitations. And we just won't know where you went on vacation, see the pictures of the most recent remodeling project, or that you just finished cleaning your toilet and ate a bowl of Reese's Puffs. We shall overcome . . . or maybe not.
