Sigh...

(Source)

No, I don't know what all of those symbols are. Let's get that out of the way right up front. The only social media I use on a regular basis is Facebook, it's a pretty good way to keep in touch with the kids without running up a phone bill. (Is that even a thing anymore?)

I have a Twitter account, I think I've used it less than 20 times. It's basically there so I can "follow" people, read their tweets, some of 'em are pretty hilarious. It's also fun to hear how the Prez's latest tweet has made heads explode. But maybe that's just me.

I've been awfully ill-tempered as of late, I blame the steroids I drip into my eye thrice a day. But those are almost gone, so next week I'll blame a lack of sleep, or the never ending political ads which seem to be everywhere. (Yes, Facebook, I'm looking at you too.) Soon that will pass, 6th of November, neh?

Anyhoo, Facebook. While I enjoy it most of the time, I've noticed lately that there is a certain type of person on Facebook who just has to comment on everything. What, a simple "like," "laugh," "love," "wow," "sad," or "mad" just not expressive enough for you?

One of my favorites is something my fellow veterans do, and yes, I'm guilty of it from time to time. Bitching about the state of "today's" military. Uniforms, attitudes, training, and the like were all better/smarter/tougher in "my day." Maybe they were, maybe they weren't.

I'm sure the Roman legionaries who left the legions before the Marian reforms were instituted whined about how "soft" the new legionaries had it. The more things change, the more they stay the same. (And yes, I'm going to make you look "Marian reforms" up yourselves. Like I said, ill-tempered.)

Also, I get a kick out of the "if you remember this, like it and share it!" Which I don't. My account is where chain messages, lists, and "share this" memes come to die. Do you really think that you will go to Hell if you don't type "Amen" and share every Jesus-meme which comes over your feed?

Nope. Not gonna happen.

Occasionally someone will do one of those "about me" lists, which can be kind of fun. But share those on Facebook? Nah, not when I can get a blog post out of it. (If you go through the archives, a post or three exists which I "stole" from Facebook. Well, the idea anyway.)

Facebook has this Messanger thingy which you can have on your phone (calm down, calm down, I have a point) which lately has been amusing in an unintended way. I received one message from a very nice looking middle-aged white woman, think someone's grandmother, with an indication of a desire to communicate with me. Facebook actually suggested that this was a bad idea, as the phone message originated in Nigeria from an account created that very day. No, I didn't answer it.

Happened again a day later, from a guy I'd served with in the Air Force. I thought it odd that he was in Nigeria. Also that we'd been friends for a while on Facebook, yet his account had been created that very day. A lot of people think they've been "hacked" when that happens. Only sort of, hacking is way more sophisticated than that. What these assclowns are doing is copying someone's profile photo and using that to create an account, often using the same name as the account they copied, or cloned if you will. (A term some have used but isn't really accurate in computer terms.)

After they do that, they start messaging all of the "cloned" account's friends list. People respond, and the mess spreads. Stop the mess, don't respond to odd messages, never copy something and send it to all of your friends. Ever.

Anyhoo, I use Messanger on my phone because it's easy to stay in touch with people without giving one's phone number away. Not that every scammer on the planet doesn't already have my number. Oh, that "No Call List"? Yup, kind of a waste of time. Most scammers ignore it because they know most people won't report it. Also, it was a program set up by Congress. Just how effective have they been over the past couple of decades? If your answer was, "Not very," you get my point.

At any rate, I am getting tired of some of the crap on Facebook, even from some of my friends, who I won't mention, who should know better.

But hey, it's the easiest way to get pictures of my grandkids. So there.

I've got that going for me.

But hey, how about those ridiculous uniforms the [insert your service here] are wearing these days? Why I remember when all we had was a loincloth and sandals. Dammit. If it was good enough for us back then, it should be good enough for the young whippersnappers these days.

Heh.