Is it just me or Facebook is making people dumber? I think it’s just me. I don’t see others complaining about the increasingly annoying trend: People on FB are joining Groups and becoming “fans” of weird Pages. People now create and join Groups that often give an indication of how they feel at the moment, or how they feel about a particular thing, or a group resembling a particular opinion that they support. You’ll seldom see folks joining groups for products and services they use, or places and People/Music/Movies/things they love and would like to follow nowadays. New groups pop up everyday and have thousands of followers within hours. I guess a lot of them are a sham. “Expressing yourself” has found a new medium – through a group created by someone else. At least you won’t spend your time scratching your head trying to come up with something funny; erm, something that you strongly believe in.

That thing you believe in. It’s right there in someone else’s words. Waiting for you to click one simple button. There you go. You’re part of the collective.
Congratulations, you have me convinced that you really love Bob Marley.

It does make a little sense to join groups. I mean, the groups that you see these days (like “I ♥ walking barefoot on the beach”) are fit to be status messages, but I guess people choose to join groups since status messages get lost in time, while Groups are featured on the “Info” tab permanently. The groups people join often tell an awful lot about the person; sometimes too much, but it’s an interesting way to connect with people with similar interests.

btw, I am no exception to this crap. I’m guilty of joining some of these groups too. This is just me taking a stab at some of my close friends (presuming they can handle it ). Especially you Lionel.

My Picks

• ‘I don’t bloody care how old the song is! I like it. So shut up!’ (My my, what a temper!  )
• i wish i knew who i could trust. (Oh, and joining a group on FB and announcing your trust issues to a world of strangers – that seems like a positive step  )
• No Matter How Many Pens I Buy, They Always ‘Mysteriously’ Go Missing! (Hon, joining a group won’t help! Get one of those stringy things that keeps the pen around your neck  )
• I Need A Hug….Don’t Question Me…Don’t Say Anything..Just Hug Me :/ ♥ (YEAHHH! FREE HUGS! Umm, you want them online or delivered to your doorstep?! Your profile doesn’t mention your street address!   )
• i hate it when you make plans….get excited…..they never happen (Blame it on the “organiser” in the group. No really, blame him for your cellphone no. being unavailable )
• I am a Doctor and I love it! (Bet you wish half the people on your FB list would fall ill! Do you cut cake every time you get a patient?!  )
• I’m so tired but I want to stay up and talk to you (It’s all about you, isn’t it? Has anyone ever asked him what he wants?! Nooo!  )
• I have to sing the ABC’s to know which letter comes before the other. (Umm, even now?! Aww, always remember that you’re a very special child!  )
• Listening to music while you are sleeping, specially when you are so tired (so awesome you are! how do you do it? what’s the secret? )
• ” Fuck Relationship Status… My fuckin life’s status is ” its Complicated (damn! That is deep man. Really.  )
• Official Dislike Button – WORKING  
• Don’t say anything about Twilight. Ever! Oh, shit I said Twilight. (I have SO much to say about you joining this group  )
• After Monday & Tuesday even the Calender says W T F…(Now I really didn’t know that. That’s funny. Ha ha. But you really should’ve saved that joke for the times when you aren’t funny in real life  )
• I like the smell of rain/petrol/lavender/fresh sneakers 
• Natural Beauties (NO MAKE-UP NEEDED) (How about letting someone else be the judge of that?)
• I ♥ my mum/dad (Good to know that, really )
• Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene! 
• I HATE CIGARETTES (oh my, you’re a saint! Join a group to notify the Pope NOW!)
• You know you are from Mumbai (Bombay) when… (Wasn’t this an e-mail forward?!  )
• Shut up, The World Won’t End in 2012. ( The people who already know that think you’re an idiot for joining this group)
• I Play Piano Therefore I Am Legally More Talented Than You  (“Legally”?! Oh really!? )
• Honestly, I write “lol” and I’m not Even Laughing (who cares!)
• I Picked a Major I Like, and One Day I Will Probably Be Living In a Box (Well, if that’s what you really want, I’ll pray for you!)
• FARMVILLE – GET 100,000 COINS & 100 CASH GUARANTEED!!! (OFFICIAL METHOD) (Are you STILL playing that game?)
• Not Playing Farmville (Good for you! Why tell me about it?!)
• Looking at old photos and thinking how much things have changed. (Really?!?! What else do you do in your free time?)
• The First Thing I Do When I Wake Up Is Check My Phone (Um, what’s the last thing you do? What about the rest of the day? Couldn’t find groups for those, eh?)
• sometimes when im walking i try keeping my feet in the little square tiles. (It must be really hard for you to walk on floors with tiles smaller than your foot )
• We Will Not Pay To Use Facebook. We Are Gone If This Happens (Educate yourself on FB policies, you mindless drone! )
• I’ve met someone this year who i know i will never forget in years to come. (Um, you do realize that as the years go by, this Group’s name will remain the same, don’t you?)
• I love sneaking out of my house xD (Joining this group will help you tremendously, especially if your mum’s on your friends list )
• why you always hate the person you love the most (I don’t know. Did joining the group enlighten you on why this happens? )
• I read the group name, I laugh, I join, I never look at it again (yep! Lionel’s joined this one too…  )

PLEASE posts your opinions as status messages or use Twitter to voice your opinions. Personally, I don’t mind you joining groups for voicing your opinions, but the idea is kinda stupid.