Last year, about the time both kids left for college and beyond, I decided to join this social network called Facebook. My sole reason for joining was to keep in contact with the kids and to be able to chat with them live and just kind of know what they are doing without expecting too much from them in the way of actual communication. I have also had a lot of bloggers recommend Facebook for networking.
And so it began...I loaded my profile with some pertinent personal info, and I invited a few people to be my friend. After just a few hours I had more friends than I realized. Most of them were relatives (some of which I didn't know I had) and the rest of them were friends of my kids,but still, it was pretty intriguing. Navigating around the site can get a little tricky because you are always being lured to games and quizzes and advertisements and can easily click on the wrong thing and end up in cyber hell on a virtual date with a Russian porn star.
As I became more familiar with my new Facebook surroundings, I was able to find some pretty fun things to get into. This is not just a social site, but it has many activities to keep you busy and addicted. The first thing that happened was one of my good friends sent me a horse for my Farm. What Farm? I didn't even know I had a Farm, let alone animals I had to care for. At first I was afraid it was like those Tamagotchis that you had to feed and care for or else it would die. I was seriously thinking of "unfriending" this person that thought I needed one more thing to care for. She finally assured me it was just a silly gift and there was no attention required on my part. She was almost right. As I dove deeper into Facebook, I found that not only should I be planting and harvesting on my Farm, but I now also have a Lil' Blue Cove with exotic fish and a Lil' Green Patch with flowers and plants. My cove gets cloudy and gets trash in it and I have to clean it. My patch gets squirrels and weeds and digging dogs in it and I have to tend to it. Yikes!! My own house and yard are already suffering due to my newly found addiction, but now I am suppose to care for something that isn't actually in my true reality.
These Facebook creators really know how to reach out and grab everyone. I saw some of my friends taking silly quizzes about their personalities and what celebrity they should be and I thought they were all very bored or else sinking into a deep depression. Then it happened... I came across a Disney trivia quiz, then a Twilight trivia quiz and then a "What is your vampire name" questionaire. I figured a few cute little questions wouldn't hurt, but unfortunately that leads to "What Brady Bunch character are you"?, "What T.V. Mom are you"?, and "What state should you be living in"? Really? This is what what my life has come to? I think Facebook is actually creating a false reality so that we all forget what a mess the economy is in not to mention the people that should be out looking for jobs instead of tending to fake Farms and Coves.
I talked my hubby into signing up (actually I created an account for him against his wishes) so that he could keep up with the kids and possibly find some old friends. I also thought this would be fun to send some love "Flair" while he was traveling. Flair is another word for cutesy buttons with fun sayings on them. This quickly became my favorite thing to do...send Flair!!!
It didn't take hubby long before he discoverd the "dark side" of Facebook. He was contacted by his ex-wife who not only wanted to be friends, but wanted to know more about his life and family, blah blah blah!! He didn't want anything to do with that and quickly retreated from any contact with her.
On the other hand, I have been able to re-connect with friends from High School that I thought were long gone from my life. It really warms my heart to be able to chat with them and share our life experiences and reminisce about our old friendships and the fun we had. This is what I think Facebook should really be about. I have also dug up some family that I didn't know I had and that is really nice as we grow older.
So, despite the many silly distractions, I thoroughly enjoy Facebook and I am very thankful for the friends that I have reunited with. Sometimes, I even get to talk to my kids and see what they are up to!!
40 years out of high school and nearly 1000 miles away, married for the second time to a guy not from that area pretty much ensures I have no old HS friends joining me on facebook, but I do have a nice and comfortable number of familiar faces there including my son and granddaughter (who keeps trying to get me involved in that sorority thing).
I try very hard to keep away from the games as I would totally waste way too much time on those!
Posted by: Margaret | 04 May 2009 at 10:51
I know what you mean about Facebook, it's so addicting and yet it can be soo annoying at times.. :)
Posted by: Ane | 12 May 2009 at 02:25
Enjoyed reading your blog. Clicked some links for ya!
Kas
http://southernbellaswaystosave.blogspot.com/
Posted by: kasandria | 12 May 2009 at 08:53
Just back away from your computer......very...
.......quickly!!! :-)
Posted by: Sabrina | 14 May 2009 at 17:52
I still get totally distracted on Facebook. So much so that I try to avoid going to it, yet I have it in my bookmarks. I am a conflicted soul.
Posted by: Mr. New Dilemma | 15 May 2009 at 21:28
Maybe someday they will come up with a cure...but for now, I have to go harvest my crops and build a fence around my goat so he doesn't eat my corn.
Posted by: Annie | 16 May 2009 at 09:33
you are dead on with that facebook stuff. I stay completely away from all the applications but so get a kick out of all the stuff my friends take the time to do. My favorite: What font are you?
Posted by: mason | 19 May 2009 at 19:21
Hey there - like your new (old?) look - I hate facebook:)
Posted by: catswiththumbs | 24 May 2009 at 18:12