I resisted Facebook for a long time. Mostly for the time suck factor, and partly because I was still holding a grudge about the breastfeeding thing. I finally succumbed late last year, under pressure from several family members and friends, as well as my own admission that I needed to use FB to help promote my fitness site.
Now that I’m there, I feel like I’ve stepped into a huge parallel world that I didn’t even know existed. The people, the lingo, the games–it’s like it’s related to the IRL world, but not quite. I discover new things (some savory, some not-so-) about people I’ve known for years and people I just met. I have relationships with people on FB that are completely different from those relationships outside of FB: I’m chatting far more often than I have in years with a friend from my NJ/NYC days, because we play Lexulous all the time. I had a nice conversation with a high school friend about his life as a stay-at-home dad. I keep up with a mom I knew from Jo’s school whose kids have since transferred to another building. I’ve learned about deaths, divorces, and new babies among my circle of acquaintances.
It’s odd. And it’s time-sucking. But so far, I’m clicking the “Like” button.
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And Facebook life is much better now that I’ve discovered that you can hide “Farmville” results so I don’t have to see how everyone’s cows are doing.
It is weird but oddly compelling.
FB as “huge parallel world” — well said.
I did a thorough weeding recently getting rid of people I didn’t know well in real life and all the a-hole high school people who friended me before our reunion (which I did not attend). And then I found a whole new set of parents with something in common.
I am developing relationships with people I know IRL that live in my town that I rarely ever see.
And I was totally baffled when I threw up a fan page for one of my projects and had 300 fans in a matter of days. And people leave comments on FB and talk amongst themselves. I wish they would comment on the BLOG!
Yes, another time suck, but it’s a completely different realm of social media that does have it’s merits.
(And BTW, I slapped up a breastfeeding picture just to see if they would take it down and I was never censured.)
It is a great way to keep in touch with people. However, it does feel a little voyeuristic, and slightly self indulgent. “tah dah…here I am…look at me.”
I’m still resisting, but waffling … a lot of extended family updates get posted on Facebook.
A BIG DITTO to what Lady M said.
I was way into Facebook and now I’ve cooled on it. Blogging and twitter is about all I can manage these days.
I love Facebook, though it is disarming sometimes when certain people from the past pop up on it. I’m friends with long-lost cousins, a guy I hadn’t seen since 6th grade, and the brother of my best friend from elementary school. So bizarre.
How you take FB depends on your state of mind in other areas of your life I think. For a while I was feeling very attacked and paranoid…I have made some changes and now FB is mostly positive for me. It’s weird how many people know each other that I have met in very different situations.