Wait But Why - 7 ways to be insufferable on Facebook

Question 1

A Facebook status is annoying if it primarily serves the author and does nothing positive for anyone reading it.

To be unannoying, a Facebook status typically has to be one of two things:

1) Interesting/Informative
2) Funny/Amusing/Entertaining

Ideally, interesting statuses would be fascinating and original (or a link to something that is), and funny ones would be hilarious.

On the other hand, annoying statuses typically reek of one or more of these five motivations:

1) Image Crafting. The author wants to affect the way people think of her.
2) Narcissism. The author’s thoughts, opinions, and life philosophies matter. The author and the author’s life are interesting in and of themselves.
3) Attention Craving. The author wants attention.
4) Jealousy Inducing. The author wants to make people jealous of him or his life.
5) Loneliness. The author is feeling lonely and wants Facebook to make it better.

Answer 1

7 ways to be insufferable on Facebook:

1/ The Brag - “I’m living quite the life”, “I’m in a great relationship”; the Humblebrag

2/ The Cryptic Cliffhanger - “That’s it. I am DONE dating.”

3/ The Literal Status Update - “Off to the gym.”

4/ The Inexplicably-Public Private Message: A public posting from one person to another that has no good reason to be public.

5/ The Out-Of-Nowhere Oscar Acceptance Speech: An outpouring of love for no clear reason and aimed at no one in particular

6/ The Incredibly Obvious Opinion: When a big event happens, a post chiming in with the opinion we’ve heard 1,000 times.

7/ The Step Toward Enlightenment: an unsolicited nugget of wisdom