I'm not sure what to make of the new social networking phenomenon. I joined Facebook this summer and wonder what the draw is to posts like, "I'm running to the store for ice cream," or "my husband made dinner tonight," or "it's 10:00 and I'm going to bed." WHO CARES?!
I've also noticed that some people make a game out of "collecting" friends. Once they send you a friend request, they never want to communicate with you, just add you to their collection. And if you do communicate with someone, after the obligatory, "where have you been for the past 20 years?" you have nothing more to say to that person. I like to call them VIRTUAL FRIENDS.
But for all of its ridiculous-ness, I have found it does have some value. I recently connected with a friend of mine who lived in California 20 years ago. Her husband was our home teacher and they had a beautiful little family. They moved to Arizona and shortly thereafter, her husband suffered a massive heart attack and died. I always wondered what happened to her. I found her on FB this week and sent a brief e-mail to her. After telling her that I was now living in Arizona, I gave her my cross-streets and asked if we lived anywhere near each other. She immediately e-mailed back and gave me her cross-streets...only 1/2 mile from me and we're in the same stake. How is it that in 6 years we've never run in to one another in the grocery store or something? Tonight we met for dinner and had a great evening of reminiscing, catching up, and girl talk.
Social networking has it's place but I'll take face to face interaction any day.
Snow Sculptures
2 months ago
16 comments:
That's exactly how I feel about facebook. I especially don't care that my acquaintances from 15 years ago are going to bed or took the kids to the park. I just don't get it.
I agree completely!!! That explains my thoughts as well! I find it interesting when I get friend requests from people I vaguely know- I don't really care what they are up to and I doubt they really care what I am up to- they are collecting friends as you say.
Blogging is much more fun! :)
I for some strange reason am drawn to FB. I enjoy hearing the mundane things of my "friends" lives- don't really know why- perhaps because I can relate to some of them! I try not to post dumb stuff, though find myself trying to come up with something witty to say...I delete all the quizzes people take and only comment on the people's pages that I want to keep in touch with- not that many, by the way. I joke that I have more FB friends than I have real friends- true...but honestly, 90% of my 200 some "friends" don't even log on or comment- it is just a fad, I think, and eventually it too will fade...
it is nice to catch up with long lost friends..I have found a few, or they have found me too- small world...
The buzz about social networking sites like facebook sure has gotten out of control lately. I don't get it either. I am not on facebook and I don't really care to sign up. I did sign up on Twitter though and I'm just kind of playing around with it. Its not like facebook though where you have "friends" or even personally leave comments for people. It's just 160 character tweets for people following you to read. That too, is just fad I am sure.
That is neat that you found your friend right down te street in AZ though.
It is amazing how easy it is to find acquaintances (and sometimes real friends) from long long ago. I find it interesting to see where people are living and what they are generally doing (from reading their profiles, not from the "I'm boiling water for macaroni now" comments). But for chatting? after a quick hello, there's very little to say after that. I don't know. I kind of enjoy it, but there sure is a lot of fluff. It's a little silly to see how many people do the surveys "which Harry Potter charater are you" or "you just got a water balloon tossed at you, do you want to throw one back?" . Seriously? Adults throw virtual water balloons??
I totally agree Lauri. I have tried that Twitter thingie, and it seems sort of silly to me.
Like you said, who cares what I'm doing!!!
Lucky you to refind a valuable friend! And regarding your comment on my post about Nana...yes, aren't we so lucky for having had the wisdom and love of our Grandmothers. What a gift. I hope I can give my grandchildren a little of that too.
Happy Saturday to you.
PS About that collecting friends thing....I hate it. I also hate it on Blogs, where you collect followers. But, that's me.
I totally agree with you about facebook. The whole "update" thing is beyond me. I much prefer blogs. It is fun to reconnect with old friends however, but like you said, it usually isn't even really a connection. I think it's probably a fad that will fade with time. The people who developed it can't even figure out how to make it profitable.
You put into words my exact thoughts about FB. The whole "friend collection" is weird and most of the little comments people make don't make sense to me (maybe it's a generational thing). People keep inviting me to be their "friend" and it makes me feel like a groupie, so I don't respond (the truth is, I don't know how to respond). I prefer blogging, I really do feel "connected" to my blogging friends, so with that said...do I know the person you described in your post? Someone from Corona? I'm glad you had a successful FB experience and I'm glad you shared it on your blog for your "real" friends to read about!
People keep telling me to get on Facebook but I just can't break down and do it. It sounds like so much work. You have pointed out a possible wonderful result from it. What do you think...should I try it?
How wonderful to have found a friend.
Hallelujah!!! I completely agree. It's a constant battle to fight not being a part of a pseudo world.
That is wonderful that you could connect with a friend and that you live so close to one another!!!
My favorite part of your blog post was the, "WHO CARES!" comment.
Love and Hugs,
Rebecca and Harvey agrees too!!!
I am on board with not being on board with the Facebook thing - I have received the most random invites - a couple from parents of students of years past - my e-mail must still be in their address book, and no offense, but why would I want to be their facebook friend? I much prefer blogging as well, and referring to your last post - cool that you knew Bill Engvall! What are you up to now that school has begun?
I agree with you. I did join facebook recently too, and have found a few friends. But I think it's weird. But I think Twitter is even more weird. I don't care what people are doing right this second either!
I couldn't agree more... It seems that some people really want to look overly popular and add as many people to their friends list as possible. I think it is like a year book... all the same messages and not much substance. It is great when you connect with someone you were close to at one point. But even then it is the usual what have you been up too and then nothing more to talk about. I like bogs much more!!!
I feel the same way about face book. That is so awesome that you found someone and can actually have a friendship again. Hope you are surviving that summer heat out there.
Hehe. I know. I can relate to everything you are saying about the updates--and still in a strange way I like them-SOME of them. NOT the type you mention but the ones that even have a half meaning (ex last week from a friend: "I love winning") I had to find out what she meant. To me that's fun. But I am interested in the little tidbits now more than I was 4 months ago--and crazily have found myself doing the same thing that I didn't think I'd ever do--UPDATING status! I suppose its because I do enjoy (some of) them.
I do have to say that I LOVE all of the old connections. SO many times I've wondered about so and so--one of them being a friend from 4th grade-he's since found me on fb and what a joy to find out he shares some similar values as me! Those moments always make my day.
I do like the feed system that will show when friends upload pix, etc. But I hate most of the apps-quizzes, etc.
It was nice seeing you-I hope you have a fun last few hours in Ohio!
COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE! yep. you nailed it. By the way, I have enjoyed browsing your site, even if I am just a virtual friend!
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