The Sentinel is like Facebook, in print

I’m not anti-Facebook. Well, maybe a little, but more agnostic than antagonistic.

I see its purpose and its benefits to connect people, providing something akin to a community bulletin board, a soapbox for ideas, a scrapbook for the town.

Just because I don’t maintain my own Facebook page doesn’t mean I am ignorant of its value. I don’t own a pickup, but I can see where a truck would be better for moving furniture than my 2006 VW Beetle — though not as cute.

I don’t own an Apple Watch, but I certainly understand that some people like having a $500 micro-computer strapped to their wrist so that they never miss a Facebook alert.

I still use my phone mostly for talking, not texting, though I am impressed with people who can text a message that fills multiple screens. I never knew a thumb could move that fast.

And I think I understand Bluetooth, but I am too long in the tooth to pay attention or care whether two electronic devices in my kitchen can talk with each other. It’s bad enough that I talk to the microwave, I don’t need my microwave and refrigerator talking about me to each other. Who knows what they think of my ignoring the freshness date on foods.

Guess I’m just stubborn, resistant to too much technology in my life and wanting to preserve the past.

Which is sort of the point of this column — only in reverse. While I am stuck in another time zone, I ask that others, who have embraced the modern aspects of life, such as Facebook, not forget the old ways.

Such as using their community newspaper as a bulletin board, soapbox for ideas and a scrapbook for the town.

It’s frustrating to see so many community groups post announcements of events, meetings, sign-ups, fundraisers and such on Facebook, and never share the same information with the Sentinel so that we can add to their publicity.

The newspaper is here to inform the town. Please help us in that endeavor. We’ll do our best to get the information in the paper if you will just let us know.

I am not looking to undo the damage that Facebook, other social media and free websites have done to the newspaper business, draining the public’s attention, advertising revenues and subscriptions from newspapers. No, this isn’t about money, it’s about asking for help to serve the community.

Like Facebook, the Sentinel does not charge for meeting and event notices. Like Facebook, we reach a wide audience, probably an audience that includes a lot of people who don’t look at Facebook every day.

Unlike Facebook, however, we’re not instantaneous. You need to plan ahead to send your information to the Sentinel in time for the next issue. My suggestion is to set a reminder on your Apple Watch to send in your next meeting notice, sign-up event or fundraiser.

And if you don’t own an Apple Watch, do what I do: Put a Post-it Note on your calendar. Or write yourself a note on a piece of paper and stick it to the refrigerator door with a magnet. Bluetooth not required.