Birthing photos are now a big thing on Facebook. I'm talking babies covered in yuck. Some even show crowning shots, with the mother's anatomy up close and personal. These aren't a few extreme cases either; it's a trend. And the photos are widely shared, not private. They get lots of Likes. What's especially disturbing--besides the obvious--is the way these posters don't recognize any right to react to their photos with anything except admiration. No one ever dares to object, because they know what would happen. "Don't be a hater. What's wrong with you? No one is offended by this!" So the poster thinks everybody approves. And the trend spreads. This is a classic characteristic of narcissists: the inability to recognize that other people and their viewpoints even exist as part of objective, independent reality. But we do exist. And we judge. Good luck getting a job from me in the future after I've seen your business in all its glory.

Well, I for one like FB. My step daughter is really bad at not keeping in touch and last time her Dad, my DH,tried to call her on her birthday, she told him she had company and couldn't talk and would call back and of course never did. He hates to talk on the phone and for him to call her was quite an undertaking, needless to say he has never called her back and just sends her a card. Because of her rarely keeping in touch I never know what is going on with the 4 GDs. Being on FB I found out one of them was in RN training and going to get married and was able to contact her and my DDs and family and myself went to the wedding in Al. this spring. I have lots of nieces and nephews and they do not keep in touch but this old aunt does like to keep up with them and can do via FB. I don't want to talk and chat with them as we have nothing in common but do like to see their pictures and know about their kids and grandkids. I block the stuff I don't want am just open for friends and relatives and if they start getting out of hand I just block them.lol.

Instagram seems very popular. I don't have a phone to access it, while I'm at home...but my husband has a tablet that might work. (We live in one of the few remaining dead zones for cell reception.)

Here's how it might work for me, with an example. Flint has/had a serious problem with their public water supply corroding pipes and releasing lead, when they switched water sources, (perhaps you have heard). Being a scientist and one who is highly interested in water quality issues, I found the local reporting sketchy, and confusing. So I had to search out other sources, which I could find online--in depth reports and position papers from the EPA, local health agencies, U of M researchers, and other reporters who either blogged or later in depth pieces in national and local news outlets. Just heard a blip about a report the other day, about the fact that aging lead pipes corroding are a nation wide problem, a lot in older, urban areas. Here's an example of an article. In that article, there are lots and lots of other sources cited, which you can then go to for further information. NPR is the source of origin, but in the article are tips for many other places to follow up for further details.Where are lead water pipes in Michigan Another example, HC's e-mail scandal. I read an in-depth article on the FBI report on her e-mails in the New York Times. Still wanted more info. so one simple google led me to the FBI's Web site and I found their release of their report on their entire investigation, which I then read. Went to a few other articles on various lawyers opinions on the legality or illegality of her actions. Worked for the feds a couple of times, and had to go through FOIA training for my e-mail so I was familiar with the issues too, through real-life experience. Also did my masters thesis on using the Internet so had some basic background knowledge and a piqued interest in subjects relating to Internet use.