Facebook, Farmville, and more

FIRST THINGS FIRST: What is the purpose of our existence?

Our main goal is to be united with God in heaven after our bodies die. This requires EFFORT.

WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT FACEBOOK, TWITTER, MYSPACE, OTHER ONLINE NETWORKING SITES?

Meeting friends, sharing pictures, playing games.

NOW, WHAT'S WRONG WITH FACEBOOK, ETC?

Facebook (why single out this one? Because we know for sure that VERY MANY of US are members of that network. That's WHY!!!

Facebook and other social networks offer strong temptations for BORED OR INSECURE PEOPLE to construct a SECOND LIFE, a life of virtual friendships that are not natural. Too often, for the sake of fun, people INVENT STORIES OF THEMSELVES OR THEIR ACTIVITIES. And thus begins a habit of telling UNTRUTHS, when one's joke becomes too good to be given up, one would rather NOT LIVE UP TO REALITY, but rather immerse himself/herself to a world of make-believe. For short, DAYDREAMING... The temptation is great because of the unlimited audience paying attention.

Read these from Fr. Paul Robinson, SSPX (Where Madness Lies):

"Teenagers engaging themselves in the social networking would enter a NARCISSIST INCUBATOR that is as addictive as its astounding ability to make one feel good."

"Exhibitionism is rampant in the online matrix." (Note how many post pictures of themselves portraying themselves as glamorous individuals or established socialites... wine glass or cigarette in hand, or as sexy stars.) This makes teen life a "theatrical, self-directed media production". (Self-produced too.)

If only these people would take time to reflect, they would realize that they are already dangerously SELF-ABSORBED, snapping self-photos and mailing them on regular basis to all their friends.

SO WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE? Where does all these self-advertisement lead? HUMILITY? MODESTY? Come on. Let's be honest.

FARMVILLE, OH FARMVILLE!

Do we count ALL THE TIME WASTED AT THE INTERNET?

Many young people are encouraged to pretend that they are busily engaged in productive work when in fact, all they do is PRETEND to be farming and DAYDREAM about a harvest and an income. They don't want to work on a real farm because the virtual farm offers "more money"... fictitious money. STUPID.

Farmville Fans, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. THERE'S A LOT OF ARABLE LAND IN THE PHILIPPINES, GET YOUR TOOLS AND START REAL FARMING AND YOU WILL GET OUT OF POVERTY. IF you imagine you're too rich to start farming, start opening your wallet and start GIVING. That's the only way to go to HEAVEN. iF you keep up the farmville, you'll harvest your wasted time in HELL.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE:

How many hours did I spend on farmville, and how many duties did I NEGLECT because of my hours in farmville? (SLOTH is the mother of many vices.)

And how about all the flatteries and lies.... can I count the ways? What was my motive for posting that picture? For telling that lie? (PRIDE...)

And how many times did I feel bad when others overtook me in the games level? (ENVY, PRIDE... urging me to waste more time at the computer just to beat the other one, for short, engaging in SLOTHFUL OCCUPATION).

And what about covetousness and lust that were stirred inside...???

FRIENDS OF THE CROSS, WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THESE ONLINE NETWORKS? Hard to give up? Well, LIFE IS A WARFARE... a warfare between two standards. The standard of Christ and the standard of satan. CHOOSE!!!! Christ or Satan? Life or Death? Heaven or Hell?