Having a Hard Time Face (Booking) It 07/29/2009
 Everyone and their mother seems to be Facebooking. I'm no exception. And while I enjoy the occasional updates here and there, especially from some lovely women I've met through blogging (you know who you are) I'm also starting to get really annoyed. My irriatation might stem from the fact that I already write a blog for pay, as well as one here and sometimes at another site. I'm so sick of myself already. I don't have much more to add in a one or two sentence blurt. More than that, there's a false sense of intimacy. It's like I know what is going on in my "friends' " lives, but I don't really know, because it's just what they care to reveal in a short sentence or two. And maybe I don't really know them more than a quick meeting at a coffee shop ten years ago in Tulsa but they found me on Facebook so now "Hey, we're buddies! I get to hear about how they're not sure if it's going to rain, snow or hail rubber chickens! Yeah! I can't live without that info!" Then there's the fact that all these other people respond in one or two lines, often very quirky and funny and clever, which is super... and yes, it keeps me somewhat "connected" to my past career - but half those people who respond to the ones I do know (meaning saw their human skull at least once) I actually don't know. And then there's the fact that because I've heard from my friends on Facebook, I don't actually TALK or, Godforbid, SEE them as much anymore. Which is a huge reason why I sometimes feel alone in this whole parenting/family/social community thing. Because, when you make all your contact through the computer, the hard core truth of it is, YOU. ARE. ALONE. So am I going to give up my Facebook privileges? Heck, no. But I'm offically going to draw the line in the sand and become like those old ladies that one day just get tired of decorating their homes with the latest styles because the gold mallard ducks they bought in 1967 work just fine. (Yeah, Stella, I'm talking about you.) They're comfortable with how their bones feel in their dated recliner. They don't value their community based on the number of clicks or buddies they have in some virtual counting box. This year, when school starts, I aim to keep my blogs. I'm a writer, and writers write! I'll occasionally FaceBook. But more than anything, I'm going to start seeing people again. Bring on the coffee cups. Bring on the handwritten greeting cards and the care packages. Bring on the stray kittens I can hold in my palms and thrift store treasures I can bequeath to friends who pretend to like it but really don't but won't say anything to the contrary because I'm standing RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM. (And I can see in their eyes that they've always wanted vintage Holly Hobby toilet paper holder. You know you want one, too.) PS: My apologies for the length of this post. I'm rebelling in the face of the one line Face Book wall. Don't like it? Don't friend me on FB. PSS: Photo of the kids' great grandma Stella, at 86, before taking a test flight on cousin Michael's plane. That was only 2 years ago! Now there's a woman who doesn't need a facebook or a face life. She's a real live human being! Imagine that! CommentsI hear you! "gramma Stel 07/29/2009 22:21
Yeah, I went through those feelings with facebook, too. Now I just see it as glorified e-mail with more pictures. I like trying to think up quirky status updates (which might be more suitable for twitter, but I can't bear connecting to anything else right now!). Even though I've "reconnected" with a pile of folks through facebook, there are only a handful I message regularly, mostly because (ahem!) they are far away. I use it the way I used to use e-mail, I suppose. Anyway, since I'm a communicator, I see it as a good thing to know something about, but you can't let it overwhelm you. Love ya! Now I'm going to hop over to facebook and poke you! ;) So glad you came by my blog! I keep debating with myself about FB...I find when I'm on FB more, I blog less -- and I love to write. I like the "connection" with old friends -- but it is certainly a superficial connection. Blogging is more satisfying. And....one of these days, I'm still going to write a book!!! :) In the meantime, I'll just keep up with both a bit until I can decide. Leave a Reply |  ArchivesApril 2009 Online DegreesSocial work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people's lives. Earn your masters degree in social work. CategoriesAll 
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