I like it… just not on my Facebook status
Last year there was a fun and well-intentioned Facebook campaign in which women were asked to state the colour of the bra they were wearing – all to raise awareness of breast cancer during October 2009. And it made the news and had many blokes wondering what we were on about for a while.
- Image by Kim Dever Thibodeaux / Kim_in_CajunCountry via Flickr
This year I’ve already received a number of messages from friends suggesting we do the same but by saying where we leave our handbags (sorry to blow the game, ladies, but doubt it’s a secret by now, or a surprise). Now apart from having a good deal less to do with breast cancer than one’s bra, telling everyone where I leave my handbag is not something I consider sensible.
Perhaps it is my aging that makes me less fun these days, or the fact that I’d rather not make it even the tiniest bit easier for someone to go straight to my, albeit poor-pickings, handbag should they decide I’m their target that day/night.
Oh I know I can just ignore or reply with a cautionary message, but it just concerns me that there could be other simple ways to support the cause without offering such information to the Internet.
Call me grumpy… 
And if you see a Facebook update about me liking it on the kitchen table or on top of the fishtank – I’m not referring to my handbag
Be safe.
Babs
(who will save such grumpy posts for the Grumpies on the Blog from next week)
About BabsBabs runs The Blogmistress to help people use WordPress for their websites and/or blogs. Here on Birds however she lets loose on just about any subject other than WordPress! Follow her on twitter
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18 Responses to I like it… just not on my Facebook status
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Ah, so that’s what those mysterious messages on FB are about – I guess I’m the last one to know. I’m not happy mentioning anything about my whereabouts on social media. Call me paranoid, but to me it feels a lot like saying “I’m currently not at home, please break into my house”!
It does a feel like that a bit doesn’t it! Mine was “I like it on the back of my chair” and even then that could be too much information to the wrong person. It’s now – I like it under my armpit!
I think it is sensible to be aware of just who your information is going to, and updating with caution. Personally I think a little paranoia does no harm, Helen.
Twitter: babssaul
Babs … you really like it on top of the fishtank?
Twitter: SuzanStMaur
To be honest, Suze, I’ve not tried… It’s been a while
Twitter: babssaul
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I do take your point, Babs. And in fact I thought last year’s idea was a little silly. But saying where you put your handbag down when you get home is not the same as saying where it stays all night.
Plus, it all depends on your Facebook privacy settings. Only friends of friends can see my posts, and I don’t automatically assume any of them are planning to rob me anytime soon. It would be a sad world indeed if I thought they did.
I have boycotted it too!! xx
I have it too, Great.
Ah! You solved the mystery. Hahaha, i agree with you.
This is reminiscent of an old con played by street entertainers and thieves throughout the centuries. Prior to giving a talk or performance in the market square the entertainer would warn his audience that there were vagabonds about and that they should check they still had their “purse” about them. Just to be sure, everyone watching would cautiously pat their pockets to check – indicating to the army of pickpockets “hiding” amongst them where the rich pickings were to be found.
Can’t you girls just say how many hundreds of items you have lurking in the depths of your handbags instead – or what’s the oddest thing you always keep with you?
So would I say -” I have 3467 items under my armpit” instead Marc?
If you want to deliberately understate the amount of stuff you carry about – that would be a great answer Sarah!
I hope Leanne K joins in the fun, as her statement would be something like “right next to Lucy, my 12-foot pet boa constrictor.” Don’t suppose she’d get many villains planning to burgle her house…
Twitter: SuzanStMaur
This post actually made me giggle. Mainly because when I first saw a few of these status updates on in my facebook feed I thought it was more to do with something related to this comment ” And if you see a Facebook update about me liking it on the kitchen table or on top of the fishtank – I’m not referring to my handbag “. When I discovered it was about handbags I felt a little silly. Although I know it’s meant to be a bit of fun I have decided I won’t be updating my status with this latest suggestion.
oh finally i found out what’s all these statuses that sounded naughty are about… i didnt participate but why and how this would raise awareness about breast cancer??
mine would have been: in a very secret safe place such as under the kitchen sink, hahaha or under my bed.. lol.
I think it’s mostly harmless – the only people who know where I live are friends after all. I don’t think my address is that easy to find…but I could be wrong.
I ahve to agree with Suhad though – I don’t think it actually does increase awareness that much. I prefer to join in with things that do some actual good – like sharing stories about our girls, and links to people’s fundraising efforts.
I thought the shared email on this one was really quite amusing though – and was amazed that no one else said anything. The suggestion that mentioning the colour of one’s bra was rude and suggestive, coupled with the idea that saying “I like it” and a location wasn’t.. Pulease…how sleazy is that?
My intern showed this to me this morning. Whilst I was quite keen to forward the e-mail to my friends I wasn’t so keen on updating my FB status with “I like it on the couch. ” This isn’t just because I use FB mainly for business, it just feels like trivialising an issue that I feel deserves a little more respect. Thats just my humble opinion..