Fellow Traveler and I finally took the Facebook plunge, with our own separate pages, a couple of weeks ago at the behest of a couple of our offline friends. It's proving to be a very interesting social networking experience. We've both met friendly alumni from our respective high schools (my class valedictorian/Big Man on Campus at Outer Podunk High is now a big-city Buddhist with a delightfully serene avatar). And, contrary to recent op-ed pieces bemoaning the likeminded social bubbles in which we seem to be increasingly isolating ourselves, I find I'm developing a pretty diverse friends list. I can scarcely imagine going back to BI -- before Internet -- and living here in Outer Podunk, and not wanting to throw myself under the nearest tractor, or mud-bog pickup, out of sheer loneliness.
I can see where, in our busy lives, Facebook and its newer cousin Twitter are usurping the popularity of the blogosphere. Sometimes my infrequency in blogging is due to the sheer mental effort needed to craft a mini-essay I feel worthy of posting here for all posterity. The immediate, shout-out, "Yo, what up?" quality of Facebook makes it much more accessible during the course of the day.
7 comments:
I only started using my account a few weeks ago. Some of it still confuses me. I linked up with an old friend from Dallas who keeps sending me cyber gifts and requests.
I am not sure what to do with them or how it all works and am tempted to ignore them. But my neurotic side is worried that if I hit the button she'll get a note saying "Dan is ignoring you" and will be offended.
I hope you don't stop blogging! I am forbidden from being on Facebook by my daughter (age 23). She says she doesn't want to have to self-censor on there. I can see that limiting my thoughts to 140 characters might be a good thing, but I think I'm too old to change there!
One of my face-to-face friends who's also on Facebook keeps inviting me into these weird virtual games -- build my own virtual farm, decorate a virtual tree, etc...I don't want to be rude, but I just don't [i]care.[/i] I have a hard enough time managing my own real-life gardening, tree trimming, etc. LOL
As you know, I have Facebook, but just to keep track of one of the off spring who doesn't communicate much. But that hasn't helped because she moved to where there is no 'net.
I like it that recently I've gotten in touch with a few relatives, but it is an annoying device on slow internet. I just don't do any of the games and gifts. I don't think I'd do them if the 'net were fast here. I've got other things to do.
But I wouldn't trade blogging because there is a depth that doesn't exist in Facebook. Plus, in Facebook, everybody else can see who your are "talking" to and what you are saying. I thought wall-to-wall was private, but it isn't.
I'm like you, LC - like the connectivity of Facebook, but the mini-games are really annoying. Come find me - I'm always looking for more friends!
Can I friend ya? Hmm? :)
Oh, sure, Ruth -- search "Ellen Polzien."
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