facebook

I reluctantly joined facebook about a year ago simply because I felt "out of the loop" tech-wise. I mentioned to my then-paralegal, who is a sweet young girl, that I had 12 whole friends! With a downward gaze and a careful tone, she replied, "I have 423, I think."

Oh.

I've since upped my numbers, but I actually know all these people. As in, I communicated with them pre-facebook, and I have in-person contact with them at least once a year or two. There were a few people who "friended" me and enclosed a message saying something to the effect of, "I know you don't know me, but we both attended school X or worked for employer Y, and I'd like to network with you." And I love networking. e-networking saves me costs on business cards, at least.

One thing I've found exciting, sometimes curious and, at times, sad is that it is only since the advent of facebook that I correspond with family members. I have cousins in the South, for example, who I have not seen since I was 8 or 9. My mother keeps in contact with their mother, but that is it. Now that we are friends on facebook, I can see pictures of their children and, overall, get to know them a little.

I do see the convenience of facebook for certain areas. For example, a friend recently had major surgery and will spend the next 2 months recovering. Instead of sending out mass emails, she and her husband updated her status on facebook - hourly, at first, and then only 3-4 times per day. I was able to know exactly how she was doing, hour by hour, and leave a comment. In addition, my sister is dating a lovely young man who has a 5 year old boy. I anticipate these two will be my brother-in-law and nephew, respectively, and I enjoy getting to "know" them through their pictures.

Finally, there have been times when, in the course of my lawyerly life, certain individuals make themselves difficult to locate. The vast majority of the time, with a simple (and free!) search I can find them on facebook.

With all that said, I do not treat facebook as a private diary, nor will there be anything remotely "juicy" on my page. I've had more than one friend comment that I am the only person they know who doesn't have a single semi-incriminating photo posted. For good reason...I don't want to leave any evidence ;)

My facebook pet peeves:
1. Leaving crypic status updates!
2. Announcing break-ups. Engagements and weddings, of course, are lovely.
3. Having wall-to-wall discussions about matters that are best handled via email. "Susie, want to do dinner tonight?" "Sally, I can't do tonight. How about next Friday?" "Ok."

What do you think of facebook?

(If you want to "friend" me, send me an email with the email address you use on facebook).

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