Social networking....

Today, I spent a good portion of my day thinking about facebook.com and what it means. Now, I know that we tell ourselves it means absolutely nothing to the real world. But really, it is SYMBOLIC of the real world.

This site allows us to reconnect with friends from our past, gives us another way to keep up with our friends of the present, and maybe even make a few new friends. It allows us to sink LARGE amounts of time and energy into pointless games and quizzes. It allows us to share pictures of us living our lives....

It also can be symbolic of the states of our friendships. What happens when an old friend "un-friends" you? This is symbolic of a friendship ending.

I admit, I am a facebook junkie. I really LIKE looking at the photos people share. I enjoy chatting it up with old friends. I even *gasp* use quite a few of those time sink apps. But, I also have observed that this site has allowed users to end friendships without ever talking to the people. Not even a phone call. So, in this world of technology, where does human connection fall in?

Although I LOVE using facebook, I have recently been going out of my way to make sure my actual relationships are in tact and strong. I have been spending many hours talking (yes! Face to face!) to my nearest and dearest. I have been "unplugging" and trying to work out my differences with those that I have fell out with.

Facebook is nice. And a constant group who is there to support you (even from a distance, yes, I have friends and family all over the country and some in other countries. This is another reason facebook is great.) is the most awesome thing ever! Last I looked, I have 248 friends on facebook. Most of them, I actually know! But, when things are really down and out, who will visit you in the hospital/pick you up/bail you out? The friends you actually spend time with.


Getting back to the idea that facebook is symbolic of real life... Un-friending people there can be as hurtful and irksome as ignoring them in person. I hate saying that. I would like to say that these things don't matter. But they kinda do. Most people would never end a relationship via text message or email... WHY would they do it by hitting a simple button on this website? No explanations. Is there a sense of detachment? I shouldn't have asked that. I think this is the issue. You can end things with seemingly no consequence. Seemingly, no mess.

It is a little scary how impersonal things have become. And so, I have been out and about more. Come look at my smiling face! In person!

Don't know where to find me?

Check my facebook status!

GGC