Tag Archives: Facebook

A New Page In My Life!

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Of course I always want to turn over a new leaf, especially now that it’s fall but this time I am working on a new Facebook Page representing the Author part of my life. There was a confusion. I tied my Sprinkled Notes blog to my sprinkled notes facebook author page. People couldn’t find me when they wanted me, the new author. So now I am switching over to a my new page. Here is the address. Follow along with me on my journey. There will be ups and there will be downs. Perhaps at times, I will rest in the valley inbetween.

My new author Facebook page. If you have been following my sprinkled notes Facebook page please switch over. It will disappear soon, just like the stiffs in Granny’s new book. https://www.facebook.com/julie.seedorf.author

 

Who Is The Bully?

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I am going to weigh in on something that has been happening in my local school district. I am NOT going to tell you whether I agree or disagree in this situation because I don’t want it to take away from the message that I want to get across. But I did need to weigh in on something about the situation that has been bothering me.

A young lady, a junior in our school district, forgot that she had a pocketknife in her purse and on a school search it was found. The young lady was suspended for a month, literally the rest of the school year because the school has a zero tolerance policy. The parents and many local residents are upset because this girl has never been in trouble and has been an A student. According to her and her family it was a mistake, she had been working on her boyfriends farm cutting bales and had thrown it in her purse and forgot about it.

Because many feel that the consequences were too harsh the family and friends have taken it to the media, picketed the school in her support and have started a facebook page for her support. There is talk of a lawsuit. That is the good part of our society in that when people feel something is not right they can voice their opinion.

This is my problem with some of the things that are happening right now. Whether I agree or disagree with the school boards decision, some of the things I am reading on this Facebook page and by comments in support of this young woman in the media scare me. Many of this young woman’s supporters advocate that the school board are bullies. I have seen threats encouraging people to follow the school board and possibly do them harm. I have seen the comments that call the school board names and call the school board bullies. If there is someone that seems to disagree with the people supporting this young woman, on the comments on the Facebook page and in the newspaper, they are bullied, they are called names and they are attacked. Many of the people that make the comments in support of the school board decision are attacked verbally.

This is my point to those that support this young woman. If you want to win the people that make the decisions and others that make a decision over to your side, don’t call them names, don’t bully them. Use rational facts and rational conversation. I don’t know how colleges choose their students but I would have to say if I was looking at the comments that I am seeing from many of the supporters I would definitely take a look at that when I was making my decision. Many of the friends comments are very disrespectful to anyone that does not agree with them and has an opinion supporting the school board. Bashing is not the way to get the decision changed. If I were a member of the school board and I saw and felt the bullying that is happening right now toward the board I definitely would not reverse my decision.

People have a right to have an opinion about the Zero Tolerance policy, one way or another. This is America and yes we have freedom of speech but what you can say and how you say it can stop the conversation in an instant. I would listen to someone that is respectful. We learn from others opinions that are different from ours. We may change our opinions from something they say but I stop listening once the bashing starts.

Again, I am not giving my endorsement in this post either way. I want it to be about rational commenting. Those that manage the Facebook page for this young woman should put a stop to it right away. I did  see when I was reading this page that one person that made a rational comment about her view was told she was the only negative comment on this page. I thought her rational statement was the only positive comment I saw in a long line of bashing.

And now I imagine I will hear some bashing too. I hope not. I only want people to stop and think before they write so that if they want someone to take their point of view seriously that they make the comment in a respectful way that does not bash those that are making the decisions. It might actually change the minds of those that are in power.

I didn’t post this girls name but I will provide a link to read the story.

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2014/04/30/minnesota-high-school-student-expelled-pocket-knife/8483183/

You’ve Linked to Me, Now What Do I Do?

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joyfullMy world has opened up since my book Granny Hooks a Crook was published and since I started investigating all the social media that is out there. It can get confusing for us older adults that spent most of our lives writing letters and communicating with a phone system that was attached to a wall. I am a dreamer and I love the new technology most of the time. My problem is that I love to explore new programs and new ways to connect with the people and my readers.

You might say that is a good thing, right? Maybe but…. I try too many things too fast so I know a little about a lot and not a lot about a little. Ooh, I have a new Grannyism to add to my Fuchsia, Minnesota cups in my Hermiony store at Zazzle. As you can see, and it happens with many creative minds, mine is scattered here and there with thoughts that randomly pop into my head that have nothing to do with anything I am writing about. Back to the little but not a lot.

A few weeks ago I decided I should have a book trailer for my kids book Whatchamacallit? Thingamajig? What did I do? I tried a new program. It took me days to get my project done because I had to learn a little about this new program that I loved in order to finish my project. The book trailer is kind of cute, not the best, a little long, but it was so much fun.

My scattered mind is now going back to the social media. I joined Linked In, Stumble Upon, Tumbler, Reddit and I probably forgot a few other ones that I thought I needed to join. And I probably didn’t put the correct names because ahh… I can’t remember them all. I already belong to Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook and WordPress. I have started receiving invitations on  Linked In. I wasn’t sure what to do with them. People have recommended me. Recommended me for what? I wasn’t sure and I knew the people that recommended me so it must be the thing to do. I wasn’t sure I needed a Linked In Account because I always thought that was for corporate types not Granny writers. I see it is for more than the corporate suits. But then… I only know a little about the site.

And I can’t forget about Google. It keeps changing and adding and confusing me. But I do love Google at least the parts of it I can figure out.

I don’t accept everyone on some of these media sites. I don’t need to expand my world to solicitations or things that make me feel worse, and I don’t need to have thousands or millions of Twitter followers so I don’t follow people that offer me more followers. I can’t figure out the reason I would want to follow millions of people. I like to read what people post. I only want sincere followers and people I can follow back that expand my world in a positive way.

Social Media is great for writers. I am grateful I can send my writing off to editors that correct my bad grammar since it is not my strong suit. I am grateful for social media because it is crucial for getting the word out on our books. The best part for me is being able to connect with my readers. Also I joined some writers groups on Facebook and have made many new friends. There are so many talented and fun people out there.

I was feeling anxious about joining too many things and not keeping up. It was causing me stress. I felt behind in my knowledge. I was stressing on all I had to learn. I had pieces of this and pieces of that. And then……and then……the thought hit me that I may never put the pieces together just right. I may Stumble, Tumble, Tweet, Pin It and whatever else I want to do. All of these things are perfect for a scattered mind to keep it active, to keep it learning and to keep it interesting.  I will never learn it all because if I did the website will change. And here’s the kicker, no one really cares but me.

A few people recommended me on Linked In. Recommended me for what I wondered. The recommendations were good so recommend away until I find out how and why to recommend someone. It felt good to be recommended and to have someone say something positive about my scattered mind.

As a writer these social media sites are important and so are the groups on Facebook. Outside of that is the fact that I need this expanded world to broaden my vision, my friendships and my life. The people I follow, the people I connect with are inspirational, spiritual, creative and positive. I hope I am that to them.

So Stumble, Tumble, Tweet, and whatever else you want to try. Don’t be scared. Have some fun, be kind to yourself. Connect with those like you. Find balance between online friends and off line friends. Learn about far off places, different cultures. Make friends with those in another country. Connect with old friends. If you are older, don’t give up because you are scared and are afraid you can’t learn. Take your time. Be patient. You can learn and you might be glad you did.

I just have one question, you’ve linked to me, now what do I do?