There are plenty of lists that mock certain “types” of posts on Facebook. You’ve surely read those posts from people who constantly talk about how much they love their significant other or that they just finished a crazy difficult exercise routine or ate the world’s tastiest burrito.

The website Funny Or Die satirizes the popular social medium’s users who post– among many things– about being terribly alone or unlovable.

http://www.funnyordie.com/lists/6706d22475/people-who-should-be-immediately-unfriended-on-facebook

I’m adding another type of poster: The Mysterious Illness I Won’t Explain.

It doesn’t seem possible, but it was one year ago today that we took off for [insert location here], so our [child]could have specialized surgery there. The surgery was a success and we were well taken care of in the [number] weeks we spent there thanks to our doctors and nurses and to the friends and family who lent their support. Feeling a lot of gratitude today.

That post then leads to several comments offering encouragement and affection.

Some people, however, don’t know what the poster is talking about and they ask.

“What was the surgery?”

There’s not a peep from the original poster.

I don’t understand.

Why post a bold and emotional comment but not publically answer questions about the illness?

Posters like this are not obnoxious like those who constantly coo about their kids or partner. It’s just a curious thing.

I would excuse this phenomenon if the original poster was a very infrequent user of Facebook. But when I see a post from someone nearly every day and on a myriad of topics, why the sudden silence?

Is the surgery background a SECRET?

If so, why on earth post the comment in the first place?

I argue people balk at revealing too much to others. It’s a matter of boundaries.

Consider that someone might post: “Will I ever find the love of my life?”

There are several encouraging replies of course. But I can guarantee the original poster isn’t going to pop back onto his or her Facebook page and add, “My mother was an alcoholic and my father ran out on us and thus I know my family background damaged my self-love and thus I won’t find love with someone else.”

That just plain crosses the boundary for most people.

The same thing happens to those posting about the surgeries or illnesses. They balk suddenly at revealing too much.

According to a study from the University of Colorado, traditional interpersonal communication is moving toward Internet interactions. Those have their own rules, language, and etiquette. The rules for the socially mediated world are hard to negotiate and understand. That’s because we’re still designing them.

Thus, we’re still figuring out what to make public and what not to make public.

 

Source: http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/newsreleases/Pages/Study-shows-Facebook-unfriending-can-have-offline-consequences.aspx