I have a feeling my last post offended some people.  And even if it didn’t, I apologize anyway.  Re-reading it I realize I came across kind of harsh.  I didn’t mean it to be directed at any specific person or persons, but rather at “the system” under which we all choose to operate.  I don’t have a problem with people wanting to be my “friend”, and the fact that I may not initially be inclined to “accept” them as a “friend” is not meant to imply that I don’t like them or will never accept them as a “friend.”  Some people are perfectly comfortable letting anyone and everyone in, and I have a feeling that Facebook is very well suited for those people.  I’m more reserved and protective, and cautious of who I let in (that’s where the “snobbish stuck-up prick” label gets applied), and therefore do not feel immediately comfortable with the culture prevalent on Facebook.

Please do not be offended if I do not instantly accept your request for “friendship”.  It doesn’t mean I don’t want to talk to you.

I’m going to give it another go.  The inspiration this time is my new account on Facebook.  I’m convinced that Facebook is just plain silly.  I’m going to give this an honest attempt to try to prove myself wrong.  Okay, I can see the draw for some people, just not for me.  How this helps me to connect to people (or why I should even care) is beyond my grasp at this point.  I have an established online presence.  You can google me and basically find out anything you would want to know.  Anyone who wants to can find me in about 5 seconds, without the help of Facebook.

Here’s my initial impression: Facebook is crack for social junkies.  There, I said it.  The more “friends” you have, the more time you have to spend reading about all the crap they did since the last time you logged on.  Your network can grow exponentially.  Each of the “friends” (I refuse to use the word “friend” in this context without quotes) you add also has a network of “friends” that might have something in common with you.  Within a couple days you could discover a hundred people with whom at some point in your life you have had contact.  And why shouldn’t they all be your “friends”?

Those of you still resisting the urge to join Facebook, at this point I’m not going to try to convince you to do otherwise.  You have your reasons for resisting, and I can tell you that those reasons are probably well-founded.  Stay the course.
If you’re looking to make an online presence for yourself, Facebook is not the way to do it.  Myspace would probably be a better choice.  As far as I can tell (though I haven’t dug in too far yet), there is no way to really customize the “front page” in Facebook, or control what other people see when they look you up.  I think no one can see your profile unless they are your “friend,” or perhaps a “friend of a friend.”  So you have to actually be logged into Facebook and be my “friend” to access the content I try to put up there.

The other problem is that the first thing you see when you go to my facebook page is this abomination called the “Wall.”  Here you can see everything I’ve ever done and everything that anyone else has done to me.  Why should anyone care how many “friend” requests I have responded to?  Or that so-and-so “poured me a drink to ring in the new year?”  For someone that wants to control the “window” through which others view information about me, this is very frustrating.  There’s so much “stuff” there, and no way for me to draw attention to a specific area.

I’m going to give this a legitimate try, and I’m sure I’ll learn more about it as I go, so future impressions may change.  Who knows, I may even grow to like it.  I’ll try to keep an open mind.