Just a short reflection on this Friday morn in Asia:
What was the world like before Facebook? Who was I before Facebook?
I ponder this as I simulataneously scan through statuses, “like” pictures, and comment on friend’s notes. I signed up in 2005, but rarely used it until it started getting really popular in 2007.
I’m on it a lot. Even when I don’t post (which is rare) I lurk. Facebook is often the first website I look at when I crack open the computer and the last one I check before shutting it down.
Am I addicted? Are you addicted? One of the reasons I check it so often is because it is the only line of communication I have with certain people. Sad, no? I often think that if I were to close down my account that I would lose contact with about 90% of my friends. But then again, if the simple act of unsubscribing from a social networking website (when I can be contacted easily by phone, email, and Skype) means that for certain people I would cease to exist, I guess that we weren’t really “friends” to begin with, huh?
I think FB often promotes what I think of as passive friendships. No need to really work at maintaining “proper” contact as you can see what everyone is up to and can “like” a picture/status/post to show that you “care”.
What do yall think?
P.S.: In other, totally unrelated news, it is a gloriously sunny day in Hong Kong today. Here is the view from my window at work.
P.S.S.: It was actually warm enough today for me to wear capri pants and no socks and I didn’t have to put my heater on last night! Could it be the beginning of spring in Hong Kong?
13 Comments
Yea FB is crack-level bad LOL. In actuality, everyone I talk to on it. I speak to on a regular basis in actual life. Just few folks that I may not see regularly and 1 or 2 I know from FB. I know that defeats the purpose but it's good way for me to be a nosy Aunt and sort of watch what my teen-aged and young adult nieces and nephews are doing. LOL. I stopped friending random people awhile back, that was just getting weird.
I guess if I didn't have it, I'd just use the phone like I did before. I actually remember when I used to write letters to family in other cities, now that's a throwback, letter writing. Wow!
Gosh yes! The lost art of letter-writing!! I adore receiving letters but have gotten very little in my life unfortunately… Would love to see that practice come back!
Kind of true about maintaining passive friendships but for some of my old high school friends it's allowed us to plan real get-togethers. I have to say I hate the "like" feature because it's like you don't really care enough to say anything meaningful, the FB equivalent of a weak smile.
I got rid of fb in 2009 for about 5 months. I attempted to just do the email and skype etc. This was hard even for my real friendships as they are on a different time than me and just different schedules etc. I signed back up because being away from home it's just easier to keep in touch.
When I signed back up I did a massive reduction of 'friends' which cleansed a huge majority of people I don't really talk to – old high school people mainly and other randoms. It is an addiction of sorts. I check it often but hardly post things myself as you do.
You are lucky with the weather there. If you were home, you would still be walking with coats and boots. It is still chilly here, unfortunately.
I have to admit that I am not a fan of fb. I still have an account but I have closed it on many occasions. I find it boring. I kNOW! weird. I will have to log in though just add you…if that is an option of course.
FB is online crack. I'm just sayin'… And you're right, it promotes passive friendships but, because I'm all the way over here and my fam is all the way over there it's easy for me to keep in touch with them. I lurk too, it only to kinda feel up to date with my friends. Plus, I hate using the phone so it's not like I'm gonna pick up the phone and call a body. (I do love writing letters though…)
As for the sunshine and all that, you've got to know that I think I've got you beat there. It's Nice after all, and you know how it goes. It's a gorgeous day today: big blue sky, pouffy clouds, bright sunshine… We'll soon be able to have lunch on our terrasse!
To get over my addiction to FB, I joined Twitter and I have become a Twitter crack-head ever since….these sites are just to addictive. I actually long for those days of true friendship.
@Mil: Perfect description of the "like" button! I know it's designed to make people's lives easier but I prefer a large, full-teethed smile over a weak one any day…
@Rhona: For sure add me! Oneika Raymond 🙂 As for the weather, it IS cold in t.o. but I find that you guys at least get a fair amount of sunshine and clear blue sky days in the winter to compensate- most of the time the sky is icky and grey here 🙁
@Melissa: I, too, have thought about massively reducing my friends but don't want to because you never know when you can potentially cross paths with these folks again… Case in point, I was recently contacted by an acquaintance that I met nearly 10 years ago- she's going to be vacationing in Hong Kong next month!
@Tanya: I agree with being able to keep in touch with family members via FB… Guess it is a necessary evil! As for the weather in Nice, I couldn't agree more and I am INSANELY jealous that you live there! 300 days of sunshine a year over there really positively affected my health when I lived there in 2005 to 2006. Honestly it is the best place I have EVER lived. I miss it! Now only to convince Liebling to somehow move there… 🙂
@Lara: You know what? I just cant seem to get with twitter! I don't knwo why! I've been trying though, but I only seem to check my account once a week…
For a person like me who has moved to many times in my life, facebook actually allows me to keep friends in a way I was never able to before. Location used to be so important – phone calls and letters fail over time. But I am no back in touch with people I was friends with as a kid, high schooler and college. And there was a reason we were friends, they are funny and smart and get me. I like the passive aspect…something I would email my hubby or my mom now goes out to more people and they can "like" or ignore or comment as they wish. But I am a big believer in keeping the list of "friends" to a reasonable number. I am all to likely to say something to piss people off, so I would like to anger less than a hundred people with my stupidity. And I am completely addicted, had to get a VPN for the days I stay in China because I CANNOT go a day without facebook. Love it, love it, love it!
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