It started out great - connecting to old friends that I wondered about for years and being happy that they were alive and well, being in on the inside joke at work because I was Facebook friends with people there, finding out whether I was Ginger or Mary Ann. In the beginning, I loved Facebook. It was fun.
Somewhere along the line though, it just got creepy. I got friend requests from people who used to punch me in the head in the hallway in high school because of my partially shaved head (it was the 80's), from co-workers that I never dealt with on a daily basis, and from people I had never even heard of. Then, I found myself sending requests to people I didn't really like, but because of close mutual ties, felt the need to just do it rather than say occasional hellos via someone else's FB page.
I didn't have a million friends - I really did try to keep it real. I had just under 200 friends before closing it down. However, in making an alter-ego page to keep in touch with those I really love and who will love me no matter how many times I write the word "shit" or "fuck," I found that there is a minor percentage of those 200 people that actively play a role in my life. Tres minor - like, an eighth of 200.
I don't know about y'all, but Facebook made me feel beholden to people I hadn't seen in years. I knew more about what was going on in the life of a friend from third grade than I did with my own Dad. I found myself telling my husband things like, "oh so and so posted this on Facebook today, it was so funny!" and when he asked "who?" I had to explain that it was someone I barely knew and would probably never communicate on a meaningful basis with and that he would never meet. I was sure to wish them a happy birthday though.
Facebook is creepy. Forget about World of Warcraft, Facebook is the truly addictive massively multi-player online game. Mafia Wars, Farmville, I-just-sent-you-a-secret-egg shiz...ugh. Oh and, I didn't even score girl in the Gilligan's Island quiz. I am the professor. It's better than scoring the Skipper though, I guess.
I'm looking forward to not checking Facebook for the latest cool video, sent by a former co-worker that I never even had lunch with. Maybe I'll have time to check out WOW or something, now.
How many of you have either dumped FB altogether or created a secret account where the bully in high school couldn't make penance with you so easily?
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Um, clarification here - I gave up my *personal* account. Just wanted to make that clear, as FB is actually a great thing to communicate YoLadies stuff.
Hey congrats! I've been thinking about it too, but I'm still kinda hooked on Bejeweled Blitz :D
Have you tried out Lotro? Me and Tarja picked it up again this spring and it still rocks...
I don't know if I can follow your example. If I give up Facebook (and by extension Vampire Wars) I'd have to get a real life!
Snellman - haha you're addicted! :) As long as you don't feel dirty, afterward. No I haven't checked out Lotro yet but if you guys are on there and you don't have to be on Facebook to play, I might give it a try.
Charles - you vampire, you! I know you have a real life out there - nothing wrong with some escapism. Maybe my problem with FB is I'm a figurative underworld dweller who can't stand too much light or too many voices. haha
OMG! I love your article and its so true. I was just thinking about that with mine lately b/c of all the people on there. Its really true about the 3rd grade thing and I find that to be SO ANNOYING!