Yes, I have a Facebook page. Call it cultural anthropology but it’s an interesting place to hang out, swinging as it does between highbrow (a group supporting books in print) and lowbrow (a campaign to dump your friends for a free burger at Burger King). After a fast start in a college dorm it’s a world-wide phenomena available to both the young and the young at heart, which is to say we baby-boomers who just have to get in on everything. I’ve connected with a number of writer friends I like and admire, I located a college roommate and an old boyfriend, and I can finally get a clue as to what my nieces and nephews are up to. Lately, more of my friends are joining, especially those with teenagers. I’m kind of a slacker when it comes to posting, linking, poking, tagging, reminding and joining. And why do my friends all seem to have many more friends than I do? Makes me feel like I’m not getting out enough, cyberspace-wise.
I like to try and come up with clever posts under the “what are you doing right now” section although I tend to fall short. My friend Steve Clemons, who writes a well-regarded Washington political blog, is always dropping impressive tidbits like “[Steve is] having lunch with the Saudi foreign minister” or “…talking about a new approach to Mid-East policy with Rachael Maddow on MSNBC tonight.” Steve has more than 3,000 friends. Most of the posts tend towards “[Joe is] feeling better about work” or “[Jane is] wondering if winter will ever end.” I have six or eight pictures posted but nothing I worry about strangers viewing. When Facebook altered its Terms of Service TOS) agreement, appearing to retain ownership of user information even if the user quit Facebook, the outcry was fierce. The company has temporarily reverted to the old TOS language while it seeks to clarify its intentions (i.e.,w e would NEVER sell your information). Whatever. I’m kind of surprised at people’s expectation of confidentiality when it comes to the Web. I figure all bets are off when you log on. Security is one thing; I support and encourage any and all protections possible when it comes to online commerce or anything relating to children. But the rest of us must know that the information, the images, specifics about who you are and yes, where you live, the asinine thing you wrote to a co-worker or the tasteless joke you sent around – it’s all out there and sooner or later, someone will get to it.
Of course people are free to reveal as much as they like when they like, which is why we’ve progressed from IMs to texting to Twitter, which allows you to let your friends know exactly what you’re doing at any given moment. Apparently, celebrities, not to mention some politicians and media personalities are all a-twitter over the thought they can fill their fans in on their most minute, not to mention mundane activities. I don’t have a twittering device, at least not yet. I can’t get my head around the idea that I might one day receive a Tweet from someone I like and admire that says: “Had xistential thot b4 heading to men’s rm. It passed.”
Hysterical! Perhaps all the great quotes of the future will come via twittering. I stay away from all of this. I have few enough friends in real life; I don’t think my ego can take having less in cyberspace. Oh, and must we capitalize tweet and twitter? It somehow gives them an importance they don’t deserve.
I’m happy to have stumbled upon your blog.
Facebook rocks!
I have gotten reacquainted with my high school teacher, gotten to know some of my extended family in a way I never did.
I am a fiber artist. I got the idea on a Thursday to have an art sale in my living room on a Saturday. In the past when I have done things like this, nobody came. It was just me and my dogs sitting here. I got the idea to advertise it on Facebook and the it seemed like everyone I have ever met in my whole life showed up! I ran out of cookies to offer people. I sold a lot of stuff!
Another Facebook adventure was the time the water pipes in my house froze and I expressed frustration for a very temporary inconvenience. Five people called me offering for me to stay with them. One came unannounced with jugs of water.
Sometimes, it seems like, if I stood in my front yard, naked, screaming on a megaphone, everyone would just drive by, but put it on FB and wow.
Then there’s the part of FB that appeals to whatever High School mentality we still harbor. Accept, Decline, Ignore. And in the privacy of your own home!
Then then there’s the other side of that. If I ask someone to be my friend what if they decline me? Is it worse to be declined or ignored? How many days should I wait before I worry?
I think there should be a fourth option, tolerate. That should be for people I don’t real like, but I want to know what they are doing, so I can make myself miserable knowing they are “having a great day”.
I read your profile and your work is interesting. I am going to put your blog on my rss feed so I can keep up
Just dropping by.Btw, your website has great content!
I was wondering the same thing re: outcry about the terms of service. If you don’t want it out there, don’t put it up there. But it crossed my mind that perhaps they wanted to own your info so they could sell it back to you. Who wouldn’t want a handsomely leather bound edition featuring all of your personal updates for the last five years?
You can go from “Nikki is wondering if she will survive Lit 101” to “Nikki can’t believe she just sold her first book!” Like a journal. Who wouldn’t shell out good money for a personalized item like that?
Speaking of books, if you want to really get into snarky, check out David Denby’s “Snark: a polemic in seven fits”!
I read it – a few good points buried in an avalanche of rant…