Did you know that Facebook messages actually have a word limit? Yes, indeed – they do. I know this as I exceeded the limit.

I was writing a message to my cousin Scott who I have not seen since I was a child (and if you have any math skills whatsoever you know that is a very long time ago).  I was trying to begin to catch up on four decades of “stuff”.  Four decades – 40 years – 2,080 weeks – 14, 600 days…however you lay it out it is a long time. I have a lot to share with Scott and since Facebook is a social networking site it should be facilitating my social networking not holding me back my telling me I am too social.

To meet Facebook’s restrictive standards I had to split my message into two parts. Facebook cramped my style. It is just like those horrid voicemail message recordings that tell you that you have exceeded the maximum message. I cannot tell you how many times those things cut me off mid-message. Then I have to call back and talk twice as fast while explaining how I got cut off the first time. I like to take my time when I leave messages, not get the bum’s rush because I have exceeded my two minute allowance. I am social and my messages are social. Social people need more message time and space.

So, I split my Facebook message into two parts. The messages looked like installments from a Harlequin novel featured in Woman’s Day – leaving the reader hanging in the middle of the story – how is that social Facebook? How can I socially network when you impose a word limit?

I have half a mind (this is a saying, not a statement of fact) to write the folks at Facebook a good long letter telling them how I feel about their word limit. Of course, I’ll probably have to break my letter into two or more messages and then it likely won’t even be considered social networking any longer – it will be Facebook stalking. Facebook’s word limit is turning me from a social butterfly to an antisocial antagonist –ahh, the joys of social networking.

Day one hundred and ninety-five of the new forty – obla di obla da

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