I Can’t Keep Up With My Life On Social Media

Today’s President’s Day and I don’t have a particular post pertaining to it.

I can’t keep up with  all the holidays I can write about.

There are a lot of events happening out there.

I can’t keep up with them all.

I expressed some of those things in in an article in which I stated that

I Can’t Keep Up With My Life As A Writer

I’m not alone with the fact that I and millions of other people spend a lot of time, maybe too much time, surfing the waves of cyberspace. Soaking up information, news, entertainment and probably having some social interactions with others. Sometimes not so good. Because there is so many things both good, bad, and weird vying for my attention

I Can’t Keep Up With My Life On Social Media.

This post is my personal unloading of trying to deal with time management and how I interact with others.

Let’s Get Started

If something is happening in the world, it will make its way to social media.

Bad News: Saudi Gazette@Saudi_Gazette (February 8, 2025) More than 150 female prisoners were raped and burned to death during a jailbreak last week when fleeing male inmates set fire to a prison in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a United Nations spokesperson has said.

Weird News: The rare unfurling of an endangered plant that emits the smell of decaying flesh drew hundreds of devoted fans to a greenhouse in Sydney on Thursday where they joined three-hour lines to experience a momentous bloom -– and a fragrance evoking gym socks and rotting garbage.Corpse flower: Thousands line up to sniff a rare plant that reeks of garbage | AP News

Good News: TEL AVIV, Israel – Hamas released three more Israeli hostages Saturday, as a fragile ceasefire deal between the Palestinian militant group and Israel continued to hold into a fourth week.  Israel released more than 180 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in return, in the fifth such exchange, including some that are serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis. NPR

Catholic News: On Super Bowl Sunday, players for the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are vying for a championship, a ring, money ($178,000 for winners versus $103,000 for losers), and a lifetime achievement.

The Catholic bishops of their respective dioceses have more modest things at stake: food, a $500 donation, and bragging rights.

For years, the bishops of dioceses whose teams make it to the Super Bowl have been placing a public bet on the outcome. This year, if the Eagles win, Johnston is supposed to provide Jack Stack barbecue (famous in the Kansas City area) for Pérez. If the Chiefs win, Pérez will provide Philadelphia cheesesteak for Johnston.

Each bishop is also promising a $500 contribution to the other diocese’s Catholic Charities if his team loses.

Super Bowl teams’ bishops renew rivalry with public wager | Catholic News Agency

 News From the Vatican:   Pope Francis had a “peaceful night” and read several newspapers Saturday morning following his admission to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for bronchitis, according to the Vatican.

“The Holy Father had a good night’s sleep. This morning he had breakfast and read several newspapers,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told journalists Feb. 15.

“Medical assessments and necessary treatments are continuing.”

The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic Friday morning during meetings with several people, including Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico. According to the Vatican, initial examinations revealed a respiratory tract infection with mild fever.

Feb 15, 2025 / 05:53 am | Catholic News Agency

Entertainment News: The Back to the Future films have stopped at three.

Bob Gale, who co-created and co-wrote the classic 80s films with Robert Zemeckis, was asked backstage at the Saturn Awards what dreams he still has left after achieving so much success from the franchise.

Gale continued: “We made three terrific movies and people kept asking for more Back to the Future. So we made Back to the Future: The Musical … We’re taking it around the world.”

The producer noted how in addition to the film’s musical adaptation traveling across North America, it also has plans to open in Japan, Germany, Australia and on Royal Caribbean Cruises. “So,  Back to the Future, I’m going to be doing it for the rest of my life. Who could ask for anything more?” he said. ‘Back to the Future 4’ Isn’t Happening, Bob Gale Says, Hollywood Reporter

Personal News: (January 31, 2025) Beth: My mother passed away this morning on my dad and cousin’s birthday. She was found dead by me with no pulse in the bathroom, after my suspicion that she was in there for a long time. Miss you already mom, it won’t be the same without out.

Kristin Nealon Wilson:  May her soul rest in peace. May your family be comforted by the love of God in this sad time for you.

Do you keep up with the news?

I can’t keep up with all News out there.

There is so many people writing so many things on social media.

Good things.
Derek@AMDG_Derek (February 4, 2025): Do the sign of the cross in public. Whether you’re saying grace at the table, passing by a Catholic Church, or a cemetery, the sign of the cross is as much public proclamation of your faith in the Trinity as it is a prayer in itself.

Profound Things
The Religious Hippie@HippieReligious (Feb 3, 2025): If the saints could see my life, they’d be like, “You have instant access to Catholic podcasts, digital Bibles, 24/7 Adoration livestreams, and you’re STILL struggling?”

Calling You Out For Things
The Religious Hippie@HippieReligious (Feb 3, 2025): If the saints could see my life, they’d be like, “You have instant access to Catholic podcasts, digital Bibles, 24/7 Adoration livestreams, and you’re STILL struggling?”

Encouraging Things
Rev. Benjamin Cremer@Brcremer (February 16, 2025) If our Christianity causes kids to go hungry, the sick to go without healthcare, the stranger to be unwelcome, the elderly on social security to be called a “parasite,” all while billionaires get richer, we’ve profoundly misunderstood the most basic elements of Jesus’ teachings.

Challenging Things
Brick@Brickhau55 (February 5, 2025) I’ve been posting song lyrics since 8/1/2003 Some of yall need to up your game

My Response:
Because you had to be a big shot, didn’t you?
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn’t you?
You had to have a white-hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night,
oh-oh
-Billy Joel

Relatable Things
Media Melanie | TV Talk@MediaMelanie (Dec 4, 2024) We watch #TheMiddle as a family and it’s such an underrated sitcom! I didn’t realize it existed until we started watching a couple of months ago. Even my son, who’s a super tough critic and despises many comedies due to laugh tracks, always opts in. #family #TV @peacock

Really Dumb Things
“When a child first sets foot in to school, he is presented with: • a globe • books on dinosaurs • stories of the moon landing • photographs of the Titanic The brainwashing starts early”

What things stand out to you good or bad on social media?

I can’t keep up with all the good and bad
Social Media Content.

This was all on Twitter.
Or X as it is now.

Some people think you should boycott Twitter.
Was wondering if I should sign up for Truth Social or Bluesky to spread the Catholic Bard.
Or will that just suck too much time out of my life.
Why sign up for another service where people will continue to probably just ignore me like they do on FB and X?

I had an Instagram account connected with my facebook account that I hadn’t looked at in awhile.
When I looked at it recently I found it was connected with an account from a girl in Russia.
Unsure how the heck that ever happen.
She hasn’t used it in over 6 years.
But I thought I should delete it so not to give anyone access to my information on Facebook.
I tried for a while to set up a new account with my FB account and it kept linking to my 2ndary FB account.
I was baffled to as why and realized that my primary account was set up for deletion and I couldn’t link it to a new account.
Not sure I explained that correctly.
I then tried to created a live stream explaining it.
Made two as I wasn’t sure the first one came out correctly.
I think I did it right.

Are you up to date on technology?

I can’t keep up with all the Social Media technology.

Former Trad Catholic and founder of 1PeterFive observes…

Last night, I complained (on social media; where else?) about how we published a fantastic, moving, uplifting story about an incredible saint — St. Marianne Cope — who took the awful lives of lepers and turned them into something full of beauty and wonder, but that it only had 27 shares.

Meanwhile, my snarky post about Cardinal Wuerl getting millions of dollars in retirement hit 500 shares right out of the gate.

Now, my complaining seemed to have done some good for once. The St. Marianne Cope piece now has over 220 shares and counting, whereas the Wuerl piece is stuck right where it was.

But it had me up last night thinking about all of this stuff. About the fact that since I started trying to do a lot more St. Marianne Cope-type pieces and fewer Wuerl-type pieces, traffic on this website has dropped faster than Gavin Newsome’s approval rating. Whereas in 2018, at the height of all the Vigano revelations, we were getting somewhere between 25-30K pageviews a day, lately, we’re at fewer than 10K. In fact, we haven’t broken the 10K barrier in the past 30 days. Not even once. There could be several reasons for this, but traffic metrics over time tend to be a semi-reliable indicator about whether the content you’re producing is what your audience wants to consume.

In theory, we want to know about the good stuff. The stuff that’s positive and motivating and helps us to live better, more virtuous lives. The stuff that helps us to be inspired to make changes in the right direction.

But the minute someone drops a nasty, negative, outrageous story in front of us, we swarm like flies.

–Steve Skojec, Negativity is a Drug, And We’re Hooked (March 5, 2021) OnePeterFive

Craig Onan@CraigOnan (Jun 16, 2024) Catholic Twitter is mostly just Catholics telling other Catholics they’re not Catholic enough.

This sentiment is expressed in spirit by so many on social media who love to hop on their favorite platform to express why your wrong.

Atheists think I’m wrong because I believe in God.
Protestants think I’m wrong because I believe in the pope and other Catholic teachings.
Everyday Catholics think I’m wrong because I’m too religious.
Rad Trads think I’m not religious enough and wrong because I believe Pope Francis is a good pope and think Vatican II a good council.
Sedevacantists think I’m wrong because I believe Pope Francis is the pope and Vatican II is a legitimate council.
Charismatics think I’m probably wrong because I don’t follow the latest Marian apparition as official church teaching.
The Orthodox think I’m wrong because I’m not Orthodox.
Democrats think I’m wrong cause I didn’t vote for Harris.
Republics think I’m wrong cause I didn’t vote for Trump.

I almost feel a burning desire  to answer all the objections these various groups bring up.
I want to correct them.
I want to justify myself.
But the great think is I don’t have to answer them all everytime they bring up something.
I don’t have to get into an argument with everyone I have a disagreement with.
I don’t even have to agree with everyone I normally agree with.
I don’t have to disagree with everyone I normally disagree with.
I can Scroll on when I see a potential hot and heated debate and save myself a headache.
I can be humble.

So can you!

This of course means I never have to not comment.
Only if it is in clarity and charity.
I realize can’t answer every objection and have to take solace in the faith that has been given to me.
Sometimes it is better to pray.
Sometimes it is better to just watch The Middle with your loved ones.

(with your loved ones.)

Do you get into arguments with others online?

I can’t keep up with all those who think I’m wrong.

Social media is ‘What’s Wrong With Trump’ all the time.

I can’t keep up with all the outrage about
Trump, Vance and the Like.

I can’t keep up with who might read my articles and who won’t.

Another person: They liked my post and pointed out that some things were spelled wrong which helped me to correct my mistakes.
I sometimes miss things in my proofreading.
Like spelling and punctuation.
I would like to improve my writing.
I would like to have more energy to write more things.
I would like to do more then just quote Wikipedia articles in my articles.
I would like to read and watch more things so I have more things to write about.
I would like to have more experiences so I have more things to write about.
I would like to start doing videos and podcasts.
For that I need a new computer.

If your a writer, how is it going?

I can’t keep up with all I need to do to improve my writing and creativity.

I also get this good type of stuff in my feed.

DON’T FORGET TO PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY
AND THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY EVERYDAY

Full title: The Virgin in Prayer
Artist: Sassoferrato

And this type of lovely spiritual request.

SW Prayer@SwPrayer (Jan 16,  2025) :Let’s offer one Hail Mary for all those who are struggling with depression and anxiety.
Please comment Amen as a response. #OneHailMarycampaign

I should pray more and worry about Trump’s latest outrage less.
I should pray more for all I interact with online.
I should pray for all the people who say dumb and mean things.
I should pray for those who say wonderful things.
I should pray for all who read my words.
I should pray for all who ignore me.
I should pray for all who I ignore.

I should pray for all my friends and family more.

At the suggestion of our priest, we are going to have more masses said for people. I think they’ll appreciate it.

Whom do you pray for?

I can’t keep up with all the people I should be praying for.

To be fair there is still a good amount of bashing liberals as well online.

sovereignX@SovereignX1776 (Feb 4, 2025):  Yes liberals, Nobody Elected Elon Here is who else we didn’t elect: The IRS – they targeted conservatives. The FBI – they censored Hunter’s laptop. The DOE – they push woke propaganda. The only unelected power you protest is the one exposing them. F Yes we are coming for all of them.

Wait. This first example of complaining about liberals makes conservatives look bad.

The Heretical Liberal @Rob_ThaBuilder(Feb 4, 2025): When you hear something ominous like “transphobia and hate crimes have risen by xx%!!!” remember that this is what they mean by “hate crimes”

I disagree with those who boycott J.K.
I disagree with Jimmy Akin about the quality of the Harry Potter books.

Do you get all worked up about woke liberal stuff or do you support it?

I can’t keep up with all the outrage about the woke liberals.

It isn’t just Trump people are constantly criticizing. It’s our bishops. From Vice President J.D. Vance to this guy who describes himself as a brother. Not sure if he is one or not.

We are constantly told on Facebook post we must pray for the conversions of our Bishops and priest. Do you honestly think that men like Cupich, McElroy, Dolan, Gregory, Martin, Mahony and the rest of these evildoer’s care that we pray for them?

Satan is basketing in joy over the prayers we say for his minions. These are evildoers who have done nothing but inserted agendas in between the lines of scriptures to fit their own personal lives. They do nothing but justify Sodomy and use the excuse they are only doing what God would do. No, they are justifying themselves.

I was posted a rebuttal to the person who posted it and then erased it as I didn’t want to engage in an argument.

I posted this instead.

I think this is more in line with what our attitudes towards praying for bishops should be.

The Shepherd Project – Pray For Our Bishops

From the beginning of May until the end of October, join the Shrine as it prays for Bishops across America each day.

Do you critique, support or pray for the bishops?

I can’t keep up with all the outrage at the bishops.

You can’t go on a Catholic site without some Catholic bashing the pope.

Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis received a long round of applause at a Vatican summit on Monday after announcing he intends to make children the theme of a new papal document.

Titled “Love Them and Protect Them,” the Feb. 2–3 summit with public- and private-sector leaders from around the world includes panels on the child’s right to resources, to education, to food and health care, to family, to free time, and to live free from violence.

Pope Francis to write papal document on theme of children | Catholic News Agency

Reader: I’m so ready for the end of this disastrous pontificate.

Then there is this priest who posts Pope Francis Tweets.

Encouraging and uplifting.

Pope Francis@Pontifex (Feb 3,  2025); Children who are denied their childhood are a silent cry denouncing the inequality of our economic system, the criminality of war, and the lack of medical care and education. These injustices weigh most heavily on all little ones and on the weakest. We must remember that young children observe, understand, and remember. They speak to us through their gazes and silences. Let us listen to them!

To the World Leaders participating in the Summit on Children’s Rights (3 February 2025) | Francis

Il Presidente della Repubblica Sergio Mattarella incontra Papa Francesco

And yet…

RasaBrava @RasaBrava: “Getting vaccinated is an act of love” Heretic Pope Francis Have you always been selling out your fellow man Pope Judas? ( Jorge Mario Bergoglio) Jorgie, did you also sell out priests to the Argentine military junta during the “Dirty War.”? Jorgie, did you sell out Gods children to the Pharma Globalists? You deny your fellow priests, the children of God and even Christ with your blasphemous edicts. If you or someone you know is dying from the COVID act of love, I urge you to lay your dead at the feet of a heretic and his infallible utterance of “an act of love”

Even when he is sick in the hospital someone still manages to say something like this.

Does everyone understand that it is Catholic Popes who caused WWII, the Russian menace of today, all the wars of today, and our present impending ‘Great Chastisement’ from God?

Seriously!@ReallyDude This stuff makes me rather upset.

I try to defend the pope in such circumstances against uber dumb statements.

God have mercy on them and on Pope Francis.

I can’t keep up with all the outrage at the pope.

It seems as certain Catholics always want to remind other Catholics about hell, damnation and demons.

Demon Can Smell Your Soul

You know, and this is what Satanists tell you directly, that when people are involved in serious sins  they smell spiritually, and demons sense that smell, that odor. Just like we say in Catholicism, there’s an odor of sanctification as people get holier and holier. Satanists tell us, because they talk demons a lot, that a demon can tell in a room that a person whose soul is seriously affected by mortal sin, they hover around them because they smell good to the sin of that person. – Catholic Tradition & Evangelization

To this group I only can say…

Trent Horn:  They say the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.

But among some Christians he’s accomplished another great trick. He’s convinced them that he and his
demonic minions are around every corner. So in today’s episode I have a simple point

I want to get across alongside my friend and colleague Jimmy Akin.

It’s Not Always Demons

I believe that topic of hell is important which is why I wrote this.

Facing Hell: What Catholic Teaching Says About The Afterlife

| A Resource Of Articles On The Catholic Teaching Of Hell And The Four Last Things.

Fr. Wilson at Immaculate Conception parish shows us episodes of The Chosen each Tuesday and talks about the deeper meaning of the show. The show is great. The talks about the show are great. Sometimes he talks about demons and hell. But never without talking about the love of God. You should never bring up hard realities without talking about the ultimate reality which is God’s love. I’m listening to a book on the Salem Witch Trials and one of the main reasons that tragedy happened is an over emphasis in the daily lives of hell, sin and the devil without mentioning the love and mercy of God and the corporal and spiritual works of mercy were supposed to give to others. It’s much more stimulating to talk about fear then sappy love.

The Chosen Season 5 is coming in April.

Do you constantly critique or encourage  your fellow Catholics?

Do you like The Chosen?

I can’t keep up with why my fellow Catholics are steeped in sin.

Here is some sound advice for dealing with people online rom my article Whopping Holiness In Others For Christ.

Everyone wants to imitate Jesus in the one time He showed some temper with the whip in the temple. Dude, you are not Jesus. It’s a much safer bet to imitate Him in the other 99% of the Gospels, like when He preached the good news, when He fed His sheep, when he gave over His body, and when He fixed His eyes firmly on the Father and then told us to do the same.
Simcha Fisher, The only thing I will write about the Amazon Synod (October 21, 2019)

Why be civil and find common ground with those who think and believe different then you when you can use polemics, rhetoric, provocative and sassy sarcastic dark humour that mocks others beliefs. Christians are supposed to be the light of the world but instead many are the dark of the world by being a nasty person in the name of Christ.

Matthew 23 deals with Jesus being nasty to the leaders of the pharisees.  If Jesus can do it, I can do it as well, right?  This is one chapter.  We have to take it into account but it’s one chapter.  The four gospels contain a total of 89 chapters and in one of them, Jesus is exceptionally harsh.  In the other ones, He is mild, calm, articulate, firm, and even mildly angry.  Still, 1 out of 89 is 1.1% of the time.  Taking the words of 1.1% percent of the gospels and applying them to 80% of your behavior is not following Christ, it’s an excuse to act how you want, when you want.

St. Thomas More argued against Luther, Tyndale, and other Protestants quite viciously. It’s almost painful to read at times. St. Francis de Sales was the exact opposite. He was gentle, mild mannered, but firm and spoke the truth when he needed it.
-Allan Ruhl Nasty Internet Stuff (October 9, 2019) www.allanruhl.com

We Should Keep Up with Charity and Civility
on Social Media

Sometimes you get a really great Catholic news article filled with joyful content.

In addition to some young millennials who are now on their way to sainthood, there are also seven members of Generation X — those born between 1965 and 1980 — who, despite their short lives, left a profound legacy of faith and are an example of holiness for new generations.

Below are profiles of the seven, some already beatified and others in the process of beatification.

Meet 7 ‘Generation X’ Catholics on their way to sainthood | Catholic News Agency

But still…

A Marian Organization:  Making saints of teens won’t bring young people back to the pews.
Only faithfulness to the Gospel Truth will do that.

Being cynical wont bring young people back either and these young people might draw kids back. Why can’t you just be happy in something good instead of sucking the joy out of it.

Are you cynical about non-cynical stuff?

I Can’t Keep Up with Unhappy Catholics

I don’t like to write about negative things.
I like to write encouraging uplifting things.
I like to write things that make others think, wonder and understand things.
It would also be nice if I could bring some smiles and laughs as well.

Occasionally I like to write about current issues and some hot topics
as long as I don’t get into an angry rant of a roll.

I like to write things that might make you love your neighbor more.
I like to write things that will make you want to know more about Jesus and the Catholic Church.
The more you know about them the more you love them.
Hopefully I demonstrate the truth, love, and joy of the Trinity
into your present mindset.

These are some of the themes I want to convey in my writing.
Or some of the things I should strive for in my writing.

If your a writer, what do you like to convey in your writing?

I can’t keep up with all the themes I want convey in my writing.

If you want to keep up with The Catholic Bard
Subscribe and get it delivered to your e-mail inbox.
Like and comment wherever you see the latest post.
I write 2 – 3 post a week.
If you don’t read everypost I realize it’s probably because

You can’t keep up with all that I write.

Which is why broke this into two articles.